City of Copperas Cove Benefits

This is a summary of benefits only; Policies pertaining to these benefits are on file in the Human Resources Department at the City of Copperas Cove. Refer to these policies as accruals for time off are included in the policies. Regular full-time employees receive a variety of excellent benefits.

Holidays
The City of Copperas Cove provides paid holidays to all regular full-time, regular part-time, and evaluation period employees. Every other employee is extended the official holiday, but without pay. The City of Copperas Cove City Manager may alter the holiday schedule for the best interest of the public.

Vacation
Full time regular employees are eligible to use vacation after completing their initial new employee evaluation period. Vacation leave will be earned and credited, according to a vacation accrual schedule, to regular full time employees for each completed pay period worked.

Sick Leave
Full time regular employees are eligible to use sick leave after completing their initial new employee evaluation period. Sick leave will be earned and credited, according to a sick accrual schedule, to regular full time employees for each completed pay period worked. For retiring employees–50% of unused sick leave will be paid to employees who retire with 20 years or more of physical continual service with the City of Copperas Cove and, at the time of separation, collect a TMRS monthly retirement check.

Paid Personal/Bereavement Leave
The City grants paid personal leave per anniversary year to eligible employees to be used for attending family funerals, personal business, and extensions of sick and vacation leave.

Birthday Leave
Regular full time employees who are not in their initial employee evaluation period status shall be entitled to time off from work with pay for the observance of their birthday.

Tuition Reimbursement
The City of Copperas Cove offers tuition reimbursement to all regular full-time employees who have successfully completed their initial employment evaluation period. The Tuition Reimbursement Program is funded through the Human Resource Department budget and because of operational demands placed on the various City Departments to fulfill their service mission to the citizens of Copperas Cove; funds may not always be available to employees requesting to participate in the Tuition Reimbursement Program.

Family and Medical Leave
The City provides leave to eligible employees in accordance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Flexible Spending Account Plan/IRS Section 125
Regular full-time employees may participate in the Flexible Benefit Plan, which corresponds to Section 125 of the IRS Code. The plan allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for medical, dental, vision and health related expenses, which are not reimbursed by an insurance plan. Employees may also elect to contribute to a dependent care reimbursement account through voluntary payroll deductions. Pre-tax deductions are made prior to taxes being withheld from gross salary. (Full Time employees hired on or after October 1, 2013 will have a waiting period for benefits, Benefits will be effective the 1st of the month following 60 days of continuous employment). Discovery Benefits Website

Life Insurance
The City provides $10,000 accidental death and dismemberment insurance coverage and $10,000 life insurance coverage on all full-time employees. Employees may purchase additional life insurance coverage on themselves and family members available through an independent insurance company. (Full Time employees hired on or after October 1, 2013 will have a waiting period for benefits. Benefits will be effective the 1st of the month following 60 days of continuous employment). MetLife Website

Longevity Pay
After completing one (1) year of service, employees receive an additional $4.00 per month per year for each year of service. Employees who are re-hired by the City shall receive longevity pay based on the most recent date of employment.

Direct Deposit
Employees are required to have their net payroll check direct deposited to any bank or financial institution of the employees choice.

Workers Compensation
Workers’ compensation is a state-regulated insurance program that pays medical bills and replaces some lost wages for employees who are injured at work or who have a work-related diseases or illnesses. The City of Copperas Cove provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage for all City employees.

Dental Benefits
Metlife is the provider for dental coverage for City employees. The Metlife Dental telephone number is 1-800-438-6388. Metlife website (Full Time employees hired on or after October 1, 2013 will have a waiting period for benefits. Benefits will be effective the 1st of the month following 60 days of continuous employment)

Health Benefits
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the provider for the City’s health and prescription plan. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Plan telephone number is 1-800-521-2227. Blue Cross Blue Shield Member Website. Benefits will be effective the 1st of the month following 60 days of continuous employment

Deferred Compensation (457) Plan
The City offers a Deferred Compensation (457) Plan through a Third Party Plan Administrator. Deferred compensation is a retirement savings account. Through payroll deduction, employees can contribute a “pre-tax” portion of their salary; “pre-tax” is before income tax and social security deductions are calculated. Switching expenses to “pre-tax” can result in IMMEDIATE tax savings on Social Security tax and Federal Income tax. The minimum contribution is $10 per pay period. The maximum contributions are set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) each year in October. www.missionsq.org.

Texas Municipal Retirement System
All regular City employees are required to participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Employees contribute 6% of their base pay before taxes to TMRS. For each dollar an employee contributes, the City deposits matching dollars at 2:1. Texas Municipal Retirement System benefits include:

 Retirement at age 60 with 5 years of credited service
 Retirement at any age with 20 years of credited service with 5 year vesting
 Occupational disability retirement
 Credit for prior service in full-time public employment in the United States
 Purchase up to five (5) years of military service credit (if TMRS requirements are met)

Texas Municipal Retirement System telephone number is 1-800-924-8677. www.tmrs.org

(TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL PART-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CITY BENEFITS EXCEPT WORKERS’ COMPENSATION.)

Human Resources
914 S. Main St.
Suite E
Copperas Cove, TX 76522
Ph: (254) 542-8922

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm