Office for Technology

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of January 29, 2008):

A FY 2008-09 workforce of 749.  This is an increase of 20 FTEs from the adjusted FTE level for FY 2007-08.  The following chart identifies adjustments in the current fiscal year’s FTEs along with the recommended differences in FY 2007-08 FTEs by program (if the FTE’s are the same the program is not listed):

• The total appropriation for Personal Service is $47.1 million, a 3.6% increase from SFY 2007-08.   Part of that personal service increase is a $1 million increase in the Office for Technology personal service fund, which is related to the proposed increase of FTEs.  According to the Executive Budget Agency Presentation the increase in FTEs is to “better serve customer agencies and implement statewide technology policies.”

• An All Funds increase of $47 million, (+14.8%) from SFY 2007-08, which is primarily due to increases in the General Fund (+$4.9 million) and the Internal Service Fund (+$53 million), offset by a decrease in Special Revenue-Other funds (-$10.98 million). According to the Executive Budget Agency Presentation this reflects “expansion efforts to implement Universal Broadband, progression of the Statewide Wireless Network (SWN) project, the maintenance of adequate State data center facilities, and centralization of procurement for strategically selected information technology services.” 

• The Office for Technology Program’s Centralized Technology Services Account ($50.1 million) is a new account, which according to the Assembly, will serve to centralize the procurement and delivery of technology services to participating state agencies.  This ISF account will accept interagency payment for services (personal service funds discussed below).

• The following programs had an increase in personal service funding that is not associated with an increase in FTEs in SFY 2008-09.  These funding and position changes should be clarified with management.
  1. Office for Technology Program, Centralized Technology Services Account, ISF (+$60,000).  This is a new account and the proposed FTE increase for this Program was for the General Fund (+20) not an ISF account.
  2. Office for Technology Program, State Data Center Account, ISF (+$1.4 million).
  3. Statewide Technology Program, Statewide Public Safety Communications Account, SRO (+$330,000). 

• The following programs had a decrease in personal service funding that is not associated with an increase in FTEs in SFY 2008-09.  These funding and position changes should be clarified with management.
  1. Office for Technology, Human Services Telecommunications Account, ISF (-$1.3 million).

• The Executive Budget shows that the Office for Technology employed an estimated 207 employees under consultant contracts in SFY 2007-08 at an estimated cost of $45.5 million or an average cost of $219,638 per consultant contract employee.  It is estimated that the number of employees employed under consultant contracts will remain the same in SFY 2008-09.  Interestingly consultant contract employees will be paid $55.3 million in SFY 2008-09 or an average cost of $267,044 per consultant contract employee, a 22% increase over the average cost in SFY 2007-08.  The purpose and use of these contract employees and whether they can be replaced by state employees should be clarified at statewide labor management

• The following programs had substantial increases in the proposed contractual services appropriation when compared to SFY 2007-08:
  1. Office for Technology, Centralized Technology Services Account, ISF (+$50 million).  The purpose and use of these contract employees and whether they can be replaced by state employees should be clarified at statewide labor management.

• The following programs had substantial decreases in the proposed contractual services appropriation when compared to SFY 2007-08:
  1. Statewide Technology Program, Statewide Public Safety Communications Account, SRO (-$11.8 million).  According to the Executive Budget Agency Presentation this involves the development of the SWN and in April, the State is scheduled to determine whether Phase 1 of the system meets the benchmarks required under the contract for the project (the funding assumes the project continues on schedule). 

• According to the Executive Budget Agency Presentation there is an $11 million Capital funding appropriation to renovate existing state-owned office space, which is needed to accommodate projected agency demand for additional data center space, while construction on the new consolidated data center is ongoing.  According to the Assembly a detailed study is currently underway to determine the location of the Center, which the Senate unsuccessfully attempted to locate in Utica as part of  the SFY 2007-08 budget.

• According to the Agency Presentation: there is a $99.1 million Capital Projects appropriation for the construction of the new Consolidated Data center at a “single, efficient primary site” (see above for information about determining location); and a $4.1 General Fund appropriation for repairs at the current four state data center facilities.

• According to the Assembly a $40 million appropriation is proposed to support system development costs and to acquire equipment associated with the SWN.  Part of the costs according to the Assembly is the construction of System Operation Centers, throughout the State ($5.4 million); and user equipment, which would be purchased on behalf of the Division of Parole, Division of State Police, the DEC, and OPRHP ($28.8 million).