Employee Benefits

Overview

The City offers a variety of employment benefits to all regular full-time employees. Regular part-time employees (those who are regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week) receive some benefits on a pro-rated basis.

Holidays

Eleven holidays including: New Year's Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day and a Personal Day.

Vacation

The accruals for vacation are as follows: General Government Employees - (Years 1-2) accrual is 10 days annually, (Years 3-4) accrual is 15 days annually, (Years 5-9) accrual is 16 days annually, and (10+ years) accrual is 21 days annually. 

Civil Service Employees - (Years 0-4) accrual is 15 days annually, (Years 5-9) accrual is 16 days annually and (10+ years) accrual is 21 days annually.   

Sick Leave

Sick leave is accrued at 10 hours per month for a total of 15 days per year.

Longevity

Eligible employees shall receive, in December of each year, a lump sum longevity pay for every month of employment. Employees that average a minimum of 40+ hours a week qualify for longevity pay of twelve dollars ($12) per month for every month of employment. Employees that average a minimum of 25-29 hours a week qualify for longevity pay of six dollars ($6) per month for every month of employment. 

Medical Insurance

All regular full-time employees are covered by medical (base plan), dental and vision care insurance, which is provided at the City's expense. Family coverage is available by payroll deductions at reduced group rates.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefit available for employees and their dependents to be used for confidential counseling.

Life Insurance

The City presently has a group life insurance program under which regular full-time City employees are eligible for a minimum of $20,000 or 1X the annual salary, whichever is greater at no cost to them. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also provided at no cost to regular full-time employees for the same coverage. Supplemental employee life insurance (up to $300,000 or 5x salary), spouse life insurance, child life insurance, and Dependent life insurance ($2,000 Spouse and $1,000 per child) is also available through payroll deduction.

Long Term Disability

All regular full-time employees have long term disability coverage, which is provided at the City's expense. The long-term disability plan provides financial protection for regular full-time employees by paying a portion of the employee’s income (up to 50% of monthly earnings to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month).

Texas Municipal Retirement System

Regular full-time and regular part-time employee's tax-deferred contribution into the pension fund is 7% of gross wages. The City matches this contribution on a 2 to 1 ratio. Vested after 5 years. Employees are eligible to retire with 20 years of service. TMRS.

Public Agency Retirement System

Part-time and temporary employees who are not eligible to participate in the Texas Municipal Retirement System will contribute 6.2% of gross wages into their tax-deferred PARS 457 Account. The City will contribute 1.3% of the employee’s gross wage into the employee’s account. Employees are 100% vested immediately in the PARS 457 Account.

Medicare & Social Security

The City has withdrawn from the Social Security program. There will be no deduction from an employee’s paycheck. Employees are required to contribute 1.45% of their pay for Medicare insurance.

Military Leave

Regular employees are allowed (15) days per year.

Direct Deposit

The City of Watauga is a direct deposit City. The City offers the ability to deposit employees’ paychecks into 6 different accounts, if desired.

Free Memberships

Membership to Watauga Community Center and Watauga Public Library.