The County of El Paso currently sponsors a variety of benefits for employees including: medical, dental, short/long term disability, and other ancillary benefits.  The Commissioners Court, in accordance with Local Government Code Title 5 Section 155.001- 155.063, or through contract agreements, approved employees to pay premiums for some of these benefits using the County’s payroll deduction system. 

In attempt to streamline the operation, provide additional oversight, and comply with the Local Government Code, staff requested and received authorization from the Commissioners Court to continue deducting all benefit premiums for plan year 2018 and to seek authorization for payroll deduction for benefits each year thereafter.   The purpose of this agenda item is to seek Commissioners Court authorization for payroll deduction for the following benefits and United Way employee contributions for calendar year 2019.     

Staff has set up a system through the online enrollment system which provides the opportunity for employees to acknowledge or revoke their benefits payroll deduction approval each year.

A review of current payroll deductions indicates:

County sponsored and/or approved benefits:

• Medical Insurance Premiums (Aetna) Pre-tax

• Dental Insurance Premiums (Aetna) Pre-tax

• Short and Long Term Disability (The Standard)

• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance (Dearborn)

• Vision Insurance (Aetna) Pre-Tax

• IRS Section 125 Cafeteria Plan (Aetna) Pre-tax

• Fitness Facilities (YMCA, Planet Fitness, EP Fitness)

• Deferred Compensation (Nationwide) Pre-tax

• IRS Section 132 Parking Benefits Plan  Pre-tax

• Employee Assistance Program (Aetna)

• Union 59 Dues (AFSCME)

• Pre-paid legal services (US Legal Services)

Benefits approved through Union agreement:

• Combined Law Enforcement Associate of Texas AP Dues (CLEAT)

• El Paso County Sherriff’s Office Association Dues

• Political Action Committee Dues

• AFLAC

• AD&D Police and Fire -(Grandfather Clause no new deductions authorized)

• AD&D Central United -(Grandfather Clause no new deductions authorized)

Benefits not sponsored by the County:

• Trust Mark – Disability,           9 employees being deducted

• AD&D Allianz,                         3 employees being deducted

• AD&D Colonial Life,                1 employees being deducted

• Deferred Compensation            5 employees being deducted

Other approved deductions:

• United Way Campaign Contribution

The County Attorney’s Office in December 2017 conducted a legal review of payroll deduction in accordance with the Local Government Code and has conducted a legal review of additional deductions for calendar year 2019.

September 14, 1987, Agenda Item # 28, Court Order to approve payroll deductions for Health, Life, and Dental.

May 18, 2017, Agenda Item #9, Court received a presentation from the Human Resources Department regarding payroll deductions and employee benefits for 2017.

June 26, 2017, Agenda Item #12, Court approved the 2017 employee payroll deduction for benefit premiums approved by the County of El Paso through a Commissioner’s Court order, Purchasing Department bid, County Contract, or County Interlocal Agreement.

December 11, 2017, Agenda Item #14, Court approved the 2018 employee payroll deduction for benefit premiums approved by the County of El Paso through a Commissioner’s Court order, Purchasing Department bid, County Contract, or County Interlocal Agreement. Further approved the payroll deduction (grandfather) for benefits not sponsored by the County.

October 29, 2018, Agenda Item #4C, Court approved and adopted a resolution declaring the month of November 2018 as “El Paso County Employees Combined Charities Campaign Month”.