Travis County Commissioners Court
February 7, 2012 (Agenda)
Item A2
Rewell should take 18 into executive session, right?
let's do that and any action that we take we will come back to open court before we do.
a 2 I wanted to have laid out for me.
a2.
consider and take appropriate action on replacement of current Travis County code chapter 10, sections 10.020, 10.021, and 10.022 with the attached revision.
I didn't have a chance to look at my backup.
somebody here on a 2?
this is regarding tuition reimbursement program.
>> that's correct.
>> what changes are recommended.
>> several changes actually within the program.
but the -- probably the most notable change is the increase in the reimbursement.
we're moving from -- we're proposing to move from -- from $900 per fiscal year to somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000, depending on the course work per fiscal year.
other changes are eligibility, an employee will need to be a Travis County employee for six months before applying for this program.
and the percentage of reimbursement will be based on course braids grades, 80% for a b, 100% for an a, those are the main changes.
I would like to apologize to the court for not providing a red line copy, I know that is the preferred method.
this went through numerous revisions and numerous looks at the tax code to make sure that we are compliant.
to provide all of the different revisions and changes would have probably not been particularly helpful.
>> how did we arrive at the new amounts?
>> well, we've had some money allocated towards tuition reimbursement.
there has been somewhat of an increase in participation.
and --
>> and the the costs of tuitions have gone up.
>> [laughter]
>> costs have gone up.
just general --
>> we're going from 900 to 2,000 to 3,000.
>> that's correct.
generally we in the past have spent somewhere between 40 and 50,000 I think travis could speak to that a little bit better.
is what we have done in the past.
if we increase our participation, which seems to be somewhat on the rise and we offer a larger benefit, we will -- we will need additional funds to cover it.
>> is this part of the stated objective is having more internal movement for our employees, a career ladder with regard to training?
>> right.
exactly.
that's part of it, yes.
yeah.
>> is there any requirement that -- that an individual stay with the county for a period of time after receiving the reimbursement?
>> our only limitation in that -- in that particular case is that they are with the county throughout the course.
I mean, you are paying for a semester, they need to be with the county throughout that semester.
we did look at other -- other policies in other areas and that -- if there was a requirement of -- of an employee staying longer, might be -- might not be particularly cost effective to monitor it.
okay.
>> do we -- what's the -- what's the cost of an acc course?
by credit?
>> do you know that?
>> I don't, I'm not aware.
>> I think it depends on the course.
>> I think it does, too.
but like the average cost is -- if I recall, this will cover like a course.
>> it would.
>> maybe two.
>> then the other thing that I have heard is that books are -- are expensive, much more than the tuition.
and lab fees, although those can -- those keep rising, but books are especially -- especially expensive.
>> but we surveyed tuition reimbursement policies by other major employers in central Texas?
yes, we did.
>> there's a chart that shows the information that you received?
>> we could produce that.
>> I will need a week anyway.
so I may as well see that between now and Saturday morning.
>> okay.
>> if I could get it by Friday, 5:00, I would appreciate it.
>> okay.
>> I suppose that you are also looking at like if we had a requirement that you had to stay with the county once you graduate or finish that course, I guess you are checking as well that we can do that without, you know, crossing any lines that we're not supposed to?
>> I know that other entities have made that requirement.
>> they have done that, okay.
>> again, the reason why we did not include it was how could we track that?
it would be somewhat difficult if it's a two-year, you know, you need to stay two years after the program, how would that be tracked and how would we go back and say --
>> supervisors.
>> do we get the money back?
>> for next week, could you do just a down and dirty, quick look, at statistically significant sample of people who took reimbursement two years ago to see if they're still with us.
I bet it's not a problem.
in which case, you know, if we look at, you know, 10% of the people who got reimbursed two years ago and whether or not they're still here.
I would assume that that would be a statistically significant sample and then we would see whether it's an issue or not.
>> okay.
>> probably isn't.
>> very reasonable.
>> because I don't think our turnover rate is real high.
>> right.
we have an enviably low turnover.
>> what do we think the fiscal impact would be.
during the budget process -- sorry, Travis County, planning and budget office.
we set aside $200,000 just for planning purposes.
I think what we will see is obviously people are going from $900 to $2,000 or $3,000 depending on if they're undergraduate or graduate work.
also an 80% reimbursement for fees that wasn't included in the current policy.
so I think not only are people going to be getting more reimbursement, but I think more people will likely pars in it in the -- participate in the program.
it's enough to make me want to think about maybe going back and taking additional courses.
I think other people will likely feel that same way.
we have set aside $200,000 in the allocated reserve as an earmark.
if the policy is approved we would transfer only the amount needed this year to the hrmd budget which it's time to reimburse the employees then we would come up with another estimate for fy '13 and likely include that in the budget for the department next year.
>> I'm interested in finding out what the eligibility requirements are by the other major employers in central Texas as well as the amount of the reimbursement, what they have on the back end, what the commitment to remain in Travis County is, seems to me that there should be something.
>> right.
>> as a Travis County taxpayer, not county judge, I believe we ought to train our folk and give them additional educational opportunities, but at the same time we ought to make sure that Travis County residents benefit.
>> right.
>> I understand.
>> travis, if you enroll in school, let me know where you are.
I may want to take the courses myself.
>> I will sit behind you, judge.
>> [laughter]
>> anything else?
we will have it back next week.
thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you all for moving on this for us.
we talked about it the last 10 years.
>> [laughter] that amount will make us move faster next time.
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