MIAMI -- Miami-Dade County public school teachers were voting Monday whether to accept a new health insurance plan that would significantly cut into their raises negotiated upon last year.

Voting was being conducted by hand at the United Teachers of Dade headquarters, 2200 Biscayne Blvd.

The votes come from and affect about 38,000 teachers, school psychologists, clerical workers and other Miami-Dade County Public Schools employees.

Miami-Dade County's school district, facing significant budget cuts and a 13 percent increase in health care costs, will no longer be subsidizing health insurance for educators' families.

After months of contentious negotiations, the teachers' union and the district finally came to terms. Employees can opt for free health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage, but keeping the coverage most have and covering their families will potentially cost hundreds of dollars more each month.

If the vote is yes, the district will continue to pay health insurance premiums through the end of the year. If the vote is no, it's back to negotiations without the promise of something better in the future.

A final count was expected about 3:30 p.m.