ADOPTED - AUGUST 26, 2008

Agenda Item No. 13

Introduced by the County Services and Finance Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SIX WEEK HIRING DELAY POLICY

FOR THE 2009 BUDGET YEAR

RESOLUTION #08-214

WHEREAS, in order to balance the 2009 Ingham County Budget, the Controller Recommended Budget will identify $5.6 million in expenditure reductions and revenue increases; and

WHEREAS, $500,000 of this amount is based on the implementation of a six week hiring delay; and

WHEREAS, several permanent positions are proposed for elimination in the 2009 Controller Recommended Budget, and this strategy will offset the need for further position reductions.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that for budget year 2009, a six week hiring delay will be implemented as detailed in the attached policy.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that budget year 2009 is the same as the 2009 calendar year, except for Fund 221 (Health Fund) and Fund 292 (Family Division Child Care Fund), for which the 2009 budget year is October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the hiring delay will be effective for all departments, with the only exceptions being for positions that are funded 100% from non-General Fund sources.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that departments will only be able to fill vacant positions with temporary employees when funds for temporary salaries are already available within their department budget.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in cases where a department deems it necessary to fill a position before six weeks have passed, if alternative budget savings can be identified by the department outside of permanent wages and fringes, the Controller may approve a budget transfer in the amount necessary to offset savings that would have been derived by the six week hiring delay.

COUNTY SERVICES: Yeas:  Nolan, De Leon, Copedge, Grebner, Severino

   Nays:   None             Absent:  Soule   Approved  8/19/08

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Hertel, Weatherwax-Grant, Celentino, Schor, Dougan

 Nays:  None              Absent:  None             Approved  8/20/08

2009 HIRING DELAY POLICY

As part of the budget balancing strategy for 2009, Ingham County will impose a six week hiring delay for the 2009 budget year.  (The 2009 budget year is the same as the 2009 calendar year, except for Fund 221 (Health Fund) and Fund 292 (Family Division Child Care Fund), for which the 2009 budget year is October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009.)

1)   The hiring delay will be effective for all departments.  The only exceptions will be for positions that are funded 100% from non-General Fund sources.

2)   The length of the hiring delay will be from the date of termination to the hire date.  Departments will be allowed to post positions, interview candidates and make offers of employment in the interim, but the hire date cannot be until six weeks after the termination date. 

3)  Departments will only be able to fill vacant positions with temporary employees when funds for temporary salaries are already available within the department budget.  The provision of Resolution 91-267, which allows departments to hire temporary employees to fill fully vacant authorized positions for the most critical functions of the vacant positions, and for the Controller to transfer funds from permanent salaries to temporary salaries as necessary, is rescinded for 2009.

            4)  In a case where a department deems it necessary to fill a position before six weeks have passed, if alternative budget savings can be identified by the department outside of permanent wages and fringes, the Controller may approve a budget transfer in the amount necessary to offset savings that would have been derived by the six week hiring delay.