El Paso County debating insurance discounts, pay raises for employees

El Paso County is considering what will go into the budget for fiscal year 2017 this month. That includes a possible insurance discount for county employees. But there is a catch.

The health of county employees has been a serious concern for commissioners for years now. But according to county staff, efforts to get them healthier seem to be paying off.

Tuesday commissioners heard from Sam Trujillo, deputy human resources officer for the county. The county’s risk pool fund, paid into by both employees enrolled in the plan and the county with taxpayer money now stands at $7.6 million dollars, where it had been dipping below below just a million or two in the recent past.

The fund is meant to cover enrolled employee health expenses and health initiatives since the county acts as it’s own medical insurer.

Given the current balance, the county is looking at reducing it’s yearly contribution to the fund by just under $787,983.86. But commissioners are also considering giving employees a chance to save by taking some steps to further improve their health.

On the table is a 2 percent discount for non-smokers, a 2 percent discount for taking part in health screenings and events, and another 2 percent discount for employees that have their spouse and children all on the county plan.

Depending on the plan they’re on, that change could result in saving a few bucks to more than $600 a year in employee savings.

“By offering the incentives, it helps employees become healthier,” Trujillo said. “(We) get a healthier work force, it reduces or controls our costs to the health plan, which also reduces the cost the county has to contribute which directly impacts taxes.”

The county is also considering giving most employees a pay raise as a part of the fiscal year 2017 budget. Commissioners have approved some wage and salary adjustments in the past few years, but this would be the first true raise that was granted since 2013.

Up for consideration is a 2.5 percent increase in salary for all full-time county employees that have been on the job for a year or more. That is estimated to cost the county about $2.5 million more per year if approved.

Commissioners and county staff discussed the concern that other organizations may try to take the qualified employees the county has now. But County Judge Veronica Escobar said that they can still keep taxes from increasing even with proposals like this.

“(We had) sales tax revenue that came in better than anticipated,” Escobar said, “and other revenues that were better than anticipated, and very conservative budgeting last year, I think we’re seeing a very positive end result.”

The budget discussions have been going on since last week. Commissioners will adopt a final budget before the fiscal year starts in October.