Benefits Summary

This is a summary of the city's benefit package for employees. Policies pertaining to these benefits are on file in the Human Resources Department at the City of Bridgeport and available for employees' review at any time.

Regular Full-Time employees receive a variety of excellent benefits. Regular Part-Time 29 employees (those who are regularly scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week) receive some benefits on a prorated basis.

Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS)

Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees' tax-deferred contribution into the pension fund is 7% of gross wages. The city matches this contribution on a 2 to 1 ratio. An employee is vested at 5 years. Employees are eligible to retire with 20 years of service or reaching age 60 and are vested.

Holidays

The City of Bridgeport recognizes nine holidays which include the following:

  • New Years Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • The day following Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day

Each Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employee also receives one personal day each calendar year and two extra personal days per fiscal year.  With supervisor approval, the employee may choose when to use these days. 

Vacation

All Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees accrue vacation leave for each month of active service with the city. Accrual rate increases are based on length of service and number of hours worked per regular work week. Initial accruals are earned at the rate of 80 hours per year for Full-Time employees and 40 hours for Part-Time 29 employees. Forty hours of vacation accrual may be used by Full-Time employees after satisfactory completion of initial probationary period. Maximum vacation leave accrual is 240 hours.

Sick Leave

All Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees accrue sick leave. Regular Full-Time employees accrue at the rate of 12 days per year (8 hours per month). Maximum sick leave accrual is 480 hours. Part-Time 29 employees accrue 4 hours of sick leave per month. Sick leave accruals may be used after the first month of employment.

Bereavement Leave

All Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees are allowed three days of paid bereavement leave annually.  This time may be used for an employee's (or their spouse's) close family member's funeral/memorial.

$200 Per Month Benefit Allowance

The city provides $200 per month per Full-Time employee to pay for city-offered benefits. This may include additional health insurance for spouse, children, or family, dental coverage, additional life insurance, or participation in the 457 (b) Deferred Compensation program.

Section 125 Program

The city provides a Section 125 plan which allows Full-Time employees to pay medical, dental, vision, and other premiums with pre-tax dollars. Pre-tax deductions are deducted from gross salary prior to taxes being withheld.

Medical Insurance

The city pays for Full-Time employee-only medical insurance on the $2500 deductible PPO Plan or the $4000 deductible H.S.A. plan. Dependent coverage is available as well.

Vision Insurance

The city pays for Full-Time employee-only coverage. Dependent coverage is available at the employee's expense.

Life Insurance

The city also pays for $30,000 of life insurance for each Regular Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employee. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also provided at no cost and is equal to the amount for which the employee is insured under the employee term life coverage. Employees begin receiving these benefits the first day of the month following their first 30 days of employment. Coverage and benefits under these policies are determined by the terms and conditions of the insurance policy therein.

Long Term Disability Insurance

The city pays for Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employee-only coverage. Following a 90-day elimination period, employees are eligible for up to 60% of their annual pay (subject to limits).

Employee Assistance Program

The city pays for Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees to have access to Work-Life Services, Health & Wellbeing Services, Financial Services, Legal Services, Identity Theft Recovery Services and Life Coaching Services.

Other Insurance

Full-Time and Part-Time 29 employees have the option of purchasing supplemental life, cancer, critical illness, and short term disability insurance through AFLAC.

Deferred Compensation Program

A Mission Square (formerly ICMA-RC) 457(b) Plan is provided as optional tax-deferred supplemental retirement programs that allow public employees to contribute a portion of their salary, before taxes, to a retirement account. This program provides that every Full-Time employee may defer part of their salary for payment at a future date. Although each employee should check with their own tax advisor, the deferral may allow the employee to enjoy a tax savings by reducing their taxable income, and therefore, their tax liability in the year of the deferral. Deferred income is taxable only upon receipt of the benefits. All deductions are to be made in accordance with participation agreements submitted to payroll through the Human Resources Department.

Social Security Deposits

All City employees pay into the Social Security System through payroll deposits.

Direct Deposit

Biweekly paychecks are automatically deposited to any bank requested to the ACH routing number and bank account numbers provided. Each employee must keep their ACH routing number and bank account number current with Human Resources.

Family & Medical Leave 

An employee may be eligible for leave under designated conditions as provided in the Family and Medical Leave Act.