TITLE
Recommendation to authorize the restoration of $325,000 in funds to the Civil Service Department for Fiscal Year 2008.
DISCUSSION
In September 2007, the City Council approved the Civil Service Department budget with a $650,000 reduction (23% cut). It is respectfully requested that the City Council restore half of the reduction, or $325,000, to the Civil Service Department's FY 2007-08 budget, effective April 1, 2008.
Increasing Efficiencies
After the budget was adopted, the Civil Service Department has made a conscientious effort to reduce costs and increase efficiencies while continuing to provide essential support to City departments in fulfilling their staffing needs, to provide employment opportunities to the public and to meet its City Charter mandated responsibilities. To date, the Civil Service Department has realized $325,000 in cuts (see attached). These budget cuts included the elimination of the Police Recruit marketing budget, reduced outreach efforts, a reduction of examination administration costs, elimination of the use of hearing officers, and a reduction of 2.4 staff members.
In addition, on March 26, 2008, the Civil Service Commission adopted a comprehensive and strategic plan, entitled RELAY, to enhance efficiencies in the Civil Service Department. Among the plan's changes currently underway are the creation of the Civil Service Advisory Committee (CSAC) to increase communication, collaboration and planning with user departments; changes in department policies and procedures, including a goal to complete selection processes within 45 days; and collaboration with Human Resources and Technology Services to revise the City's website to enhance the City's marketing of jobs on the Internet.
But despite these efforts to improve operations and identify efficiencies, the department cannot realize the full $650,000 cut without a major reduction in examination staff and recruitment activities. Failure to restore the requested funds will for...
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