The Orange city manager is asking the City Council to adjust the city policy on paying tuition for employees’ college education. Dr. Shawn Oubre said the costs of online tuition are more than traditional college classrooms and the tuition reimbursement should be adjusted for rates comparable to Lamar University in Beaumont.
He also wants to change the policy to require an employee to stay with the city at least a year after getting a tuition reimbursement. If the employee leaves, they will owe the city the tuition money.
The city for years has had a policy that allows an employee to be reimbursed for up to six hours of tuition per semester for higher education. The policy does not apply to police and firefighters because they have collective bargaining through unions for employment policies.
In a memorandum, Oubre wrote the reimbursement “policy was written before on-line courses and degree plans were accessible. The costs of on-line course and degrees may be more expensive than attending course in a formal setting classroom with a lecturer. This policy amendment addresses controlling costs with setting a base of what will be paid and how it will be paid.”
The Orange City Council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the council auditorium next to the Orange Public Library.
The agenda includes a formal agreement for the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau to pay the city $350,000 for rent for the next 10 years, which is $35,000 per year.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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