Trustees of the Socorro ISD Board of Trustees on Sept. 30 reviewed options to address a projected shortfall in the district’s employee health fund for the 2026 plan year, including a committee recommendation to increase employee contributions by $117 per month and to reduce the number of plan choices.

The discussion came during a board workshop presentation by Mario Carmona, Director of Employee Benefits and Rates Management, who outlined recommendations from the district’s Employee Benefits Advisory Committee and several funding scenarios for 2026 in light of current claims forecasts.

The advisory committee "included a increase in contributions of 117 per employee per month," Carmona said. The committee also recommended moving from three plan offerings to two (keeping the base plan and a consumer‑driven health plan with a health savings account, and closing the richer "Premier" plan to new enrollees), modifying coverage levels and deductibles, and pursuing pharmacy cost‑containment and wellness programs through Aetna.

Why it matters: the committee’s hybrid recommendation, if implemented as presented, could leave the health fund with a multi‑million‑dollar deficit. Carmona told trustees the committee’s approach "could potentially result in a $49,400,000.0 deficit" based on the district’s forecast; the presentation showed alternative scenarios with a $5,000,000 deficit, a $3,000,000 deficit and a fully funded (zero deficit) option for 2026.

District leaders warned that a voter‑approved revenue measure could change the board’s options. Superintendent Miguel Vasquez (referred to in the meeting as "Mr. Vasquez") and David Solis, the district’s chief financial officer, said a measure referenced in the presentation (referred to as "VADER") would add about $49,000,000 in one‑time revenue if it passes, giving the board flexibility to consider a one‑time transfer from the general fund to the health fund. David Solis said even with that revenue the district must balance short‑term cushioning against long‑term fiscal responsibility, noting the district’s 2024 unassigned fund balance was reported at $46,000,000, or roughly 33 days of operating costs.

Trustees pressed for more modeling and clarity on timing. Trustee Guerra asked when a 2026 plan must be in place; Carmona said the plan year begins Jan. 1, 2026, and carriers require employee enrollment data in December so ID cards can be mailed. Trustees asked for an additional workshop and for the presentation slides to be posted publicly; Carmona and staff agreed to provide the slides and return with more options.

Trustees and staff discussed incentives to shift employees to the consumer‑driven plan. Selena Styles, the district’s chief human resources officer, noted the district currently contributes $800 per employee annually into health savings accounts as an incentive; that program increased participation in the consumer‑driven plan from roughly 4% to about 12% this year, she said. Trustees asked staff to model alternatives such as higher district contributions to the HSA or tiered premium increases instead of a flat $117 across all coverage tiers.

Officials clarified that Socorro ISD is self‑funded for health claims, meaning the district pays net claims after discounts and absorbs that cost directly. Carmona and consultant Liz Bibo of HUB International explained how different rate‑setting approaches (an across‑the‑board $117 bump versus actuarial tiering) produce different employee monthly rates and different deficit outcomes.

No formal vote was taken at the workshop. Trustees discussed holding a special meeting after election canvassing if a voter revenue measure passes so the district can finalize plan design and enrollment timing. Staff said any contract or plan change would require a formal board approval in a subsequent meeting.

Trustees requested: (1) additional multi‑year modeling of rates and deficits; (2) public posting of the slides presented at the Sept. 30 workshop; and (3) at least one more workshop in October and a possible special meeting after canvass to finalize selections before the December carrier deadline.