Benefits Overview

• Insurance Plans
• Retirement Plans
• Types of Leave
• Other Plans

The Wellness Works program is open to all employees with a range of classes, activities, and incentives for healthy living.

The City pays the full cost of employee basic life and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Life benefits under each plan are equal to 1½ times the employee’s annual base salary up to a maximum of $250,000 each.

The City pays the full cost of Long-term Disability coverage.  This plan pays 60% of base monthly salary to a maximum benefit of $10,000 per month.

Employees may purchase additional insurance products for themselves and eligible dependents through AFLAC. 

Employees may purchase pet insurance directly through Nationwide Insurance.

Qualified employees may use Family and Medical Leave for personal or family events that necessitate an absence from work under the provisions of the Family and Medical Leave Act.  Click to download the FMLA full description.

Six weeks of 100% paid leave for the following qualifying events; Birth of a child, placement of a child through adoption or foster care, caring for individuals who have served in an immediate parental role for the individual, to care for a terminally ill spouse or child.

Both the employee and the City contribute to a defined benefit pension plan. The employee contributes 7.0% (6.0% if hired after 1/1/2012) of base salary before taxes and the City contributes as required to provide for future retirement benefits. Employees are 100% vested in their contributions and become fully invested in the Plan after 5 years of service. Employees eligible for a normal retirement at age 65 receive a benefit of 2.2% of final average monthly pay for each year of credited service in the plan.

Both the employee and the City contribute to a defined contribution money purchase plan. The employee contributes 5% (6% if hired after 1/1/2012) of base salary before taxes. The City also contributes 5%. Employees are 100% vested in their own contributions and are fully vested in the Plan after 3 years or service. Investments are self-directed by employees.

All new uniformed Police and Fire become members become members of the Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado (FPPA) statewide defined benefit plan. Members may receive a monthly lifetime benefit up on meeting the eligibility requirements for retirement. The following types of retirement are available under the plan: Normal (including Rule of 80), Early, Vested or Deferred. Members who have attained 25 years of service credit in the plan and at least age 55, or meet the Rule of 80, qualify for normal retirement. Monthly benefit is based on the highest 3 years’ base salary and calculated at 2% per year for the first 10 years of service credit plus 2.5% per year for each additional year of service credit. The plan offers a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP). The plan is portable if employed by other Colorado police departments covered by the plan.

The City offers employees an optional Deferred Compensation Plan, which defers federal and some state income taxes until retirement. Employees direct their funds into several investment options provided through ICMA. An after-tax Roth component is also available.

One week of vacation granted at time of hire for regular, benefited City employees.

For regular, benefited City employees: Full-time employees earn 96 hours of vacation annually for the first two years of employment. Additional vacation time is accrued beginning in the third year with regular increases approximately every 2-3 years with a max accrual rate reached in year sixteen.

For uniformed Police: Full-time employees earn 184 hours of vacation annually for the first tow years of employment. Additional vacation time is accrued beginning in the third year with regular increases approximately every 2-3 years with a max accrual rate reached in year sixteen.

For uniformed Fire: Full-time employees earn 263 hours of vacation annually for the first two years of employment. Additional vacation time is accrued beginning in the third year with regular increases approximately every 2-3 years with a max accrual rate reached in year sixteen.

Full-time employees earn 96 hours of sick leave per year and this leave may be accumulated without limitation.

The City observes eleven designated holidays per year plus a floating personal holiday. Observed holidays include:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• President’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Day after Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day

For specific dates please see the City Calendar.

The City offers a tuition reimbursement program for employees attending classes at accredited educational institutions.

Counseling and related services are available for employees and their family members at no charge through an Employee Assistance Program.

Employees may elect to put aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay qualified dependent care and health care expenses.

For regular benefited City employees: Employees participate in this retiree health benefit savings vehicle that allows the accumulation of assets to pay for medical expenses in retirement on a tax-free basis. The accounts are funded by annual City contributions and employee contributions of unused sick leave accumulations.

For uniformed Police and Fire: Employees participate in this retiree health benefit savings vehicle that allows the accumulation of assets to pay for medical expenses in retirement on a tax-free basis. The employee contributes 1% of base salary (before taxes) and the City contributes 1%. Additional funds go into an employee’s account by contributions of unused sick leave accumulations.