PEFtolawmakers:SwitchtostateIT
workersandsavemillionsofdollars
BySHERRYHALBROOK roleforthestateOfficeforTechnology “That’swhyit’simperativeITmanagers
PEFtoldstateAssemblymembersin (OFT). ineverystateagencykeepaninventoryof
Novemberthestatecouldsaveupwardsof “EnactingCost-BenefitAnalysis theiremployees’skills,similartothe
$200millionannuallyifitfocusedmore legislationwouldprovideabig processunderwayintheOfficeofthe
onusingandenhancingtheskillsofits improvement,”Blakesaid,becauseit StateComptroller(OSC),”Blakeadded.
informationtechnology(IT)employees, wouldrequirestateagenciestofigureout
andcutitsrelianceonprivateconsultants whetheritwouldcostmoremoneytouse Lots of excuses not to train
byatleasthalf. stateemployeesorprivateconsultantson BlakesaidPEFmembersdoneedmore
PEFExecutiveBoardmemberJim ajob,beforecontractsfortheworkare trainingtodosomeoftheITworkbeing
BlakepresentedPEF’stestimonytoajoint awardedtoconsultants. donebyconsultants,andthestateisjust
hearingofthestateAssemblycommittees beginningtoworkwithPEFtoaccomplish
ongovernmentaloperations, Dollars and sense that.
governmentalemployeesandlaborheldin Newinformationisgraduallybecoming AccordingtoBlake,however,toooften
AlbanyNovember17. availableasmorestatecontractorscomply “ourmembershearacircularargument
TheAssemblyhasbeguncallingforthe withtheContractDisclosureLawof2006 whentheyaskfortrainingattheir
statetoreduceitsITconsultantuseby50 (partofPEF’sGo Publiccampaign),Blake agencies.”
percentoverthenextthreeyearsand saidPEFnowbelievesthestateis PEFmembersareoftentolditisn’tthe
handthatworkbacktostateemployees. spendinganaverageofapproximately state’s“job”totrainitsemployees,yetthe
Incallingthehearing,theAssembly $128perhourforitsITconsultants. agenciesallowcontractorstobillthestate
committeesaskedwitnessestotalkabout TheaveragehourlycostforthestateIT forthetrainingconsultantsreceive.
howtosupportandexpeditethatshift. employeesis$55.23,whichincludes “So,whycan’tthestatetrainitsown
BlakesaidPEFestimatesthechange pension,healthcareandotherbenefits. employees,whenitpaysforthetrainingof
wouldsavethestate$110millionto$168 Evenatthelowerestimatedratefor theconsultantsithires?”Blakeasked.
million. consultants,theystillcostmorethan
“Yourconsistentadvocacyonthisissue twiceasmuchasthestateemployees. You’ve got OFT; Use it
hasbeguntoresultinashifttoward BlakesaidthestateITconsultant Blakesaidthestatecouldsavemoney
greateruseofstateITemployeestodothe contractsfallintofivecategories: andsolvemanyproblemsifitusedOFTto
workcurrentlyhandledbyconsultants,” hardwaremaintenance,designand betteradvantage.
saidBlake,aninformationtechnologistfor development,softwareinstallation, “OFTneedstobeusedmoreasa
thestateDivisionofCriminalJustice softwaremaintenance,andotherIT centralrepositoryforstateagencies’IT
ServicesinAlbany.“Wehavealongwayto services. needs,”Blakesaid.“OFTshouldfunction
go,butwithoutyouradvocacy,the “Stateemployeescanhandlealmost asthestate’sin-houseITconsultant
journeywouldnothavebegun.” theentireconsultantITdesignand agencyandhavepeopleonstaffwiththe
Thekeystomakingit developmentwork,abouthalfofthe skillsstateagenciesneedtodesign,
happen,Blakesaid, consultantITsoftwareinstallationand develop,implementandmaintainIT
lieincreating:a integration,andITsoftwaremaintenance projects.”
strong work,androughly30percentoftheother Stateagenciesthatneedhelp
systemwide ITservices.Theoneexceptionishardware developingandintroducingnew
commitmentto maintenance.Becausehardwareis technologycouldborrowtheexpertise
makingthe proprietary,itsmaintenanceoftenneeds fromOFT.Then,OFTcouldtrainthe
change;an tobedonebyconsultants,”Blakesaid. agency’sITstafftousethetechnology.
inventoryofstate Headded,“Thesepercentagesshould Whenagenciesfeeltheycan’tspareIT
employees’IT growaswedevelopabettertrainedstate- stafftobetrainedtotakeoverthework
skills,more employeeITworkforce.” thatconsultantsaredoing,OFTcould
employee loanthemstafftofillinandfreethe
training;civil
Can they do it?
employeesfortraining.
servicecareer
Sinceit’susuallysubstantiallyless
Insummary,Blakesaid,“It’sclearour
tracksto
expensivetohavestateemployeesdothe
agenciesaren’tusingtheabilitiesand
reward
ITwork,whydoesn’tthestatehavethem
skillsofourpublicservantstothebest
technological
doit?
advantage.
expertise;and
Statemanagersoftensaytheyneedto
“Itwouldgreatlybenefitthetaxpayers
anexpanded
useconsultantsbecausetheirstate
ifwereturnedthestate’sbusinessto
employeeslackthenecessaryskills.
publicservants.Thatwecansaveupto
However,whenchallenged,themanagers
$200milliondollarsayearisan
havenotprovidedanyspecificevidence.
opportunityNewYorkcannotaffordto
“WethinkITmanagersareoften
passup.”
—PhotobyJohnEpting
unawareoftheirstateemployees’specific
skillsandconsistentlyunderestimate
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PEFInformationLine:1-800-553-2445
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