City to tackle staff health care

Among the items beginning to populate next Thursday’s City Council agenda is a proposition from Council Member Ann Kitchen to discuss providing health care coverage for all city workers. The draft resolution, which is co-sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and Council Members Pio Renteria and Delia Garza, asks the city manager “to estimate the costs to the city relating to uninsured city workers and to estimate the cost to provide health care coverage to all categories of city workers not currently offered coverage, (including part-time, temporary and contract workers) and including workers in all city entities (including Austin Energy, Austin Water Utility, etc.) during the next budget cycle.” Additionally, the resolution directs the Audit and Finance Committee to examine the issue of offering coverage to all city workers, and report back to the full Council on their findings.