Special to the NEWS
BROWNSVILLE, TX—Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., and the Cameron County Commissioners recently announced adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 budget includes a property tax rate reduction, from .431893 to .426893, or a half-cent reduction over the previous year. This is the second consecutive year the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court has decreased the property tax rate by a half cent, directly benefiting all property owners in Cameron County.
In addition, the Commissioners’ Court approved and adopted an upgraded compensation package totaling approximately $5.9 million for Cameron County employees and retirees, which includes:
• 5% salary increase for all full-time employees
• Increased County retirement contribution from 200% to 250%, the maximum allowed
• 3% cost of living adjustment for all current retirees
• Approved new “tiered health insurance plan,” which decreases the monthly insurance premium for PPO plan users and increases the annual deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and ER/Hospital coinsurance benefits for ACO plan users.
“This year’s budget approval is one that consolidates the sentiment of the Commissioners’ Court. We’re giving back to our hardworking and dedicated employees and reducing the property tax rate for all property owners in Cameron County. For employees, we have allocated a 5% across-the-board salary increase, increased contributions to the employee’s retirement from 200% to 250%, we’ve budgeted for a 3% cost of living adjustment for all active retirees, and we’ve approved a new health insurance plan that benefits all employees with lower monthly premiums and increased benefits provided under the plan. For property owners in Cameron County, we have decreased the tax rate by a half cent for the second consecutive year,” stated Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.
The 2024-2025 fiscal year begins Oct. 1, 2024.
In other county news, the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court announced health insurance plan changes effective Oct. 1, 2024.
According to a Cameron County press release, changes include a new tiered plan design with enhanced and improved benefits for the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) network, and substantially lower monthly premiums for all current employees enrolled in the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network.
Additionally, employees will now have the option to seek health care in both the ACO and PPO plans throughout the fiscal year; whereas previously, current employees had to choose which plan to select during the annual open enrollment process.
According to the County, the ability to move between the ACO and PPO plans provides employees with maximum flexibility when seeking treatment from doctors and hospitals throughout the year.
In addition to increased flexibility, employees who utilize the ACO plan will see a major improvement in the plan benefits including a reduction in the deductible, out-of-pocket-maximum costs, emergency room copay and coinsurance, and hospital coinsurance under the new tiered plan design.
“The positive changes to the County’s already robust health insurance plan should be well received by our employees. Along with the 5% salary increase employees will see effective Oct. 1, 2024, and the increased matching of retirement deposits from 200% to 250% the Court approved last week, our compensation and benefits package is in great standing. Again, the County Commissioners and I understand that we must take care of our employees to attract quality applicants and retain employees. Throughout the Rio Grande Valley, Cameron County has always been known to have the best employee benefits package, and we’re fortunate to be able to improve those benefits even more for the following year,” said Treviño.
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