Benefits

The City of Alamo Heights offers its full-time employees a benefit package which is competitive with those of other municipal governments. The package includes major health care benefits, as well as the opportunity for financial security for employees and their families. Because we are a city government, our employees also have the advantage of preparing for retirement by participating in the Texas Municipal Retirement System.

Insurance

Dental Insurance

Effective date of coverage is the first day of the month after hire date. The City provides the coverage to all full-time employees. Employees may purchase coverage for dependents. Eligible dependents are the employee’s lawful spouse and children – birth to age 25.

Dental Insurance is offered at no cost to employees. Employees wishing to cover their dependents may purchase coverage at pre-tax dollars. There are two plans employees may choose from, an Indemnity Plan that allows employees to visit the dentist of their choice, and a less expensive Dental PPO that requires employees to choose a dentist from the provider directory.

Life Insurance

All full-time employees have life insurance at no cost to the employee. The amount is equivalent to approximately one year’s base salary.

Life Insurance for Dependents – Optional

Dependent term life insurance may be purchased by the employee for spouse and/or children.

Long-Term Disability Insurance

Full time employees who have completed one full year of continuous employment are automatically enrolled in the City’s Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan at no cost to the employees. An employee who is disabled and unable to work for at least six months or more may be eligible for a monthly benefit of 60% of regular monthly earnings, to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month.

Medical Insurance

Effective date of coverage is the first day of the month after hire date. The City provides the coverage to all full-time employees. Employees may purchase coverage for dependents. Eligible dependents are the employee’s lawful spouse and children – birth to age 25.

There are two plans the employee may choose from; two PPO’s. The PPO’s allow employees and dependents to utilize both in network and out of network providers and requires co-pays to providers and annual deductible amounts.

Prescription Drugs

A prescription drug plan is included under the medical insurance. Co-pays are based on type of prescription (generic, formulary, non-formulary). Mail order prescriptions are also available for a 90 day supply, employee pays co-pay for a 60 day supply.

Vision Insurance

Effective date of coverage is the first day of the month after hire date. The City provides the coverage to all full-time employees. Employees may purchase coverage for dependents. Eligible dependents are the employee’s lawful spouse and children – birth to age 25.

Vision insurance is provided free to employees by the City and dependent coverage may be purchased by employees. Employees and eligible dependents must utilize a provider in the plan and pay a co-pay for services. The cost to employees for glasses and/or contact lenses is described in the schedule of benefits.

Leave

Emergency Leave

Up to three working days of paid emergency leave in the event of a death within the employee’s immediate family.

Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave during any 12 month period to be eligible, covered employees for the following reasons: 1) birth and care of the eligible employee’s child, or placement for adoption or foster care of a child with the employee (City offers 6 weeks Paid Parental Leave); 2) care of an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent) who has a serious health condition; or 3) care of the employee’s own serious health condition. It also requires that employee’s group health benefits be maintained during the leave.

FMLA will run concurrently with Workers’ Compensation leave, accrued sick leave, accrued vacation leave, or accrued comp time leave.

Military Leave

A leave of absence for service in the Armed Forces or National Guard, or for attendance at a regular annual military encampment or cruise, and the terms of reinstatement shall be governed by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act and other applicable laws. Such leave is granted upon written request and presentation of appropriate military order.

Personal Leave

Full-time employees are provided Personal Leave as a benefit for family or personal emergencies, illness, vacation or other personal use. Personal Leave is accrued quarterly based on the employee’s years of service which is computed on the employee’s anniversary date as of January 1st of the current year.

At the end of each calendar year, the City will buy back unused Personal Leave on a separate check each year. Personal Leave not used by December 31st of each year shall be forfeited. Employees must have actually worked in excess of 1,040 (not to include overtime hours) hours during the current calendar year to qualify for Personal Leave Buy-Back.

Annual Leave

Annual Leave is provided as a benefit so that employees have a period of rest, relaxation and recreation with pay. Employees must schedule Annual Leave in advance whenever possible. Supervisors should grant requests for Annual Leave, unless the workload cannot be accomplished without the employee’s presence on the job.

Annual Leave is accrued biweekly on each paycheck based on the employee’s years of service. The employee must be paid for 80 hours in a calendar month to be eligible for Annual Leave accrual. No credit for leave of any kind will be accrued while on leave without pay status. Non-exempt employees are permitted to accrue up to 200 hours of Annual Leave and exempt employees are permitted to accrue up to 400 hours. Provided proper notice is provided, all unused Annual Leave up the maximum hours permitted to be accrued will be paid upon retirement, resignation or termination. Annual Leave in excess of the maximum hours permitted to be accrued as of December 31st of each year will be forfeited. All “Vacation Leave” accrued by employees prior to December 1st, 2008 shall be converted to Annual Leave.

Retirement

Retirement Systems

Mandatory for full-time employees: Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

• Employees contribute 7% of their pre tax gross salary. Contributions are tax-deferred.
• City matches funds 2:1 (at retirement)
• Retirement Eligibility: 20 years of service at any age, or 5 years of service at age 60 or older.
• 5 year vesting

Optional for full-time employees: ICMA 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

• Maximum annual contribution amount is $18,000. Employees control how their money is invested and may increase, decrease, stop and restart contributions without fees or penalties.
• City does not match ICMA funds

Other

Direct Deposit

Direct Deposit is available for all full time and part time employees.

Holidays

New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Good Friday, Fiesta Battle of the Flowers Parade Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and one additional floating holiday, which is a day that the employee chooses that is both approved by Administration and falls during a period that is not detrimental to the organization.

Workers’ Compensation

The City of Alamo Heights’ workers’ compensation program is self-funded and administered by the Texas Municipal League.

Extra Pay Incentives

The City of Alamo Heights’ offers both education and certification pay depending on job position.