Authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings to examine potential Civil Service reform, including the elimination or consolidation of redundant, outdated, or unnecessary classifications, and to identify additional efficiencies and cost-savings in the operation of City government.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia is facing ongoing budgetary pressures due to the broad-based economic downturn, thereby increasing the need for the operations of City government to be efficient, effective, and deliver the most value possible to citizens; and

WHEREAS, Testimony during this year's budget hearings highlighted potential areas for increased efficiency and cost-savings in the operation of City government;

WHEREAS, For example, witnesses for the Administration testified that nearly 15% of Civil Services classifications are vacant; and

WHEREAS, Eliminating or consolidating redundant, outdated, or unnecessary Civil Service classifications reduces the cost of government by enabling positions to be filled more efficiently and by identifying areas for streamlining operations; and

WHEREAS, The Fiscal Year 2010 budget proposed by the Administration included $14.4 million in “efficiencies and service enhancements,” which represents less than 0.4% of the $3.836 billion operating budget; and

WHEREAS, Additional, significant efficiency savings can be realized through methods including systematizing work-flow processes and implementing and increasing the use of technology, including a paperless City government, as has already been demonstrated by various City departments including the Board of Pensions and the Records Department; and

WHEREAS, One outcome of this year's budget process was an agreement between the Administration and City Council to work together to identify additional efficiencies and cost-savings in City government; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to the Rules of Council, the Committee on Labor and Civil Service shall hear, inter alia, “[a]ll matters relating to labor relations, work flow processes, reinventing government, efficiency and productivity of the labor force, customer service, [and] the Civil Service Commission;” now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

,

That the Committee on Labor and Civil Service is authorized to hold hearings: (1) to examine potential Civil Service reform, including the elimination or consolidation of redundant, outdated, or unnecessary classifications; (2) to identify additional efficiencies and cost-savings in the operation of City government; (3) to examine other matters related to these issues, including those matters discussed in the recitals to this Resolution; and (4) to make recommendations to City Council and the Administration regarding these issues.

End