Budget and Finance

• 2025-2026 Budget Resolution
• 2024-2025 Budget Resolution
• 2023-2024 Budget Resolution
• 2022-2023 Budget Resolution
• 2021-2022 Budget Resolution
• 2020-2021 Budget Resolution

• 2026-2027 Proposed Budget
• 2025-2026 Proposed Budget
• 2024-2025 Proposed Budget
• 2023-2024 Proposed Budget
• 2022-2023 Proposed Budget

• Payroll Calendar
• Bus Payroll Calendar
• UCPS After School Program Payroll Calendar
• School Nutrition Payroll Calendar

Increase Your Retirement Savings

Saving outside your pension plan in one of the NC Supplemental Retirement Plans (NC 401K and NC 457 Plan) is an important step toward being "retirement ready" - meaning you can replace at least 80% of your pre-retirement income.

NCPLANS Information

• Information about the N.C. Retirement Plans

Individual Assistance

• Local Retirement Education Counselor, Lionel Gruslin, is available to assist you with plan-related questions, an account review, enrollment, etc.
• Feel free to Schedule an appointment for a one-on-one virtual meeting, or contact him at 919-758-7370.

Contact NCPLANS

• 1-866-627-5267

Questions/Payroll Deduction

• Contact Lisa Grooms at (704) 296-5315 (IEP# 4076)

401K Forms

• NC 401K Enrollment Form
• NC 401K One-Time Contribution
• UCPS Quick Enrollment Form: Use this form if you have an existing NC 401K through a former employer

457 Forms

• NC 457 Enrollment Form
• NC 457 One-Time Contribution
• UCPS Quick Enrollment Form: Use this form if you have an existing NC 457 through a former employer

Online Enrollment

New Enrollment: Setting up your online account for the first time

• Visit the Empower Website and select the Register button, located at the right.
• Select I have a Plan Enrollment Code and follow the prompts using the information provided below.
• The website will guide you through the enrollment process.
• Note: When asked for a division code, input your employer's name, then select the correct employer based on your payroll frequency.

To Enroll in a 401K Plan (all employees)

• Group ID / Plan Number for NC 401K: 525334-01
• Plan Enrollment Code for NC 401K: aXmwGfg4
• Plan Enrollment Code expires: October 1, 2026

To enroll in a NC 457 Plan (all employees)

• Group ID / Plan Number for NC 457: 525334-02
• Plan Enrollment Code for NC 457: umaPHuY8
• Plan Enrollment Code expires: October 1, 2026

IRS Limits (2026)

• Individual Deferral Limit - Employees 50 and under may contribute a total of $24,500 to their 401(k)/457 plan in 2026.
• Age 50+ Catch-up - Employees 50 and older (by 12/31/26) may contribute an additional $8,000 (per IRS requirement 402(g) limits) for a total of $32,500.
• Super Catch-up - Employees ages 60-63 (by 12/31/26) may contribute an additional $11,250, for a total of $35,750 per year.   

Important: If an employee is participating in both a 401K and a 403(b) plan, the contribution limits must be coordinated so that the maximum deferral between the two plans does not exceed $24,500 or $32,500.  The contribution limits for 2026 can include ROTH after-tax contributions, pre-tax contributions or a combination of both a 401K/403(b) including ROTH.

A rollover from a previous employer's retirement plan does not impact the maximum amount an employee can contribute to either of these plans.

You may increase/decrease your contribution rate at any time.  You may stop contributing at any time.  Your account is always 100% vested.  UCPS does not offer an employer match for these plans.

UCPS is no longer enrolling in new 403b Plans.

Questions: Lisa Grooms, Finance Dept. at (704)296-5315 (IEP#4076) or lisa.grooms@ucps.k12.nc.us.

Important Information for UCPS Employees

Please be aware of any email sent to your UCPS email account offering to meet with you and provide assistance with your retirement plan. These emails are not from a UCPS Benefits employee or from an N.C. State Retirement employee (ex. "each year, as an employee of Union County Schools in N.C. you are eligible to schedule a phone call, teleconference, or in-person meeting off campus with a representative for answers to your specific state, federal and individual retirement benefit questions"). This type of email is sent out by marketing firms for contracted insurance agents/representatives located throughout the U.S. The purpose of the meeting is to sell you additional retirement accounts.

Employees who want to view their N.C. State Retirement (pension plan) account can go online to myncretirement.com and create a user id/password in ORBIT.  All of your state employment/salary information is stored in ORBIT. 

Your Federal social security information is available online with the Social Security Administration.

Visit our Plan Administrator/Third-Party Administrator's (TPA) website for questions about your current 403B Plan. 

• TSA Consulting Group, Inc. (TSACG), Fort Walton Beach, Fl.
• TSA Consulting Group (plan distribution) Online Distribution System

TSACG maintains an advanced web-based Online Distribution System for use by Plan Sponsors and participants.  The system provides employees with the ability to obtain an immediate Certificate of Approval.  The system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Please utilize this system to receive approval on withdrawals, transactions, roll-overs, signature approval, etc. for all 403b accounts.

Information/Forms:

• 403(b) Salary Reduction 04.2019
• 457(b) Salary Reduction 04.2019
• 2024 Meaningful Notice
• 2024 Plan Participation Guide
• 2024 Annual Retirement Benefits Guide

The 403(b) Basics

403b Wise - This Website was launched in March 2000 by two educators to provide important information to all K-12 employees nationwide.  If you feel that your knowledge of investing is sub-par, please visit this website where you will receive invaluable information to assist you in making your investment choices.

Complete a background check on the sales representative to find any disclosures (legal), experience, licenses, location (in-state or out-of-state) etc. Broker Check

2026 IRS Limits

• Employees 50 and under can contribute a total of $24,500 to a 403(b) in 2026.
• Employees 50 and above (by 12/31/25) can contribute an additional $8,000 in 2026 for a total of $32,500.
• If an employee is participating in both a 403(b) and an N.C. 401K plan, the contribution limits must not exceed $24,500 (or $32,500 combined).  The maximum deferral amount also includes ROTH (after-tax) accounts.
• Rollovers from a previous employer retirement plan do not impact the maximum amount an employee can contribute to this plan.
• UCPS does not offer an employee match for this plan.