Albany

The state workforce "doesn't always have the cutting-edge skills ... or the talent'' required for some specialized information technology tasks, New York's acting head of civil service told lawmakers on Wednesday.

That's why the Office for Information Technology Services uses private contractors in some instances, said Lola Brabham, who is also executive deputy commissioner for civil service.

Brabham, under questioning by lawmakers during budget testimony, was explaining why Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal would allow 250 contract employees to be hired for five years without taking civil service tests.

Those exams are designed to reward the highest scorers with state jobs.

Why not "just use the list" of top exam-scorers, asked Sen. Diane Savino, of Brooklyn, who belongs to the Independent Democratic Conference.

"I totally agree," said Assemblyman Michael DenDekker, a Queens Democrat. "People took the test. They are looking for jobs.''

In addition to the 250, the state also uses thousands of tech contractors for a variety of tasks. They are hired through large outsourcing corporations and include foreign workers brought to the U.S. under work visas, lawmakers said.

Also testifying was Michael Volforte, the interim director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations.

He and Brabham spoke about a proposal in Cuomo's budget that would require retirees to pay more toward their state health insurance, which they can keep after leaving the job.

The program would match the share of premiums to an employee's length of service. It could save the state $3.5 million in the first year alone, Brabham said.

Cuomo proposed a similar plan last year but it was rejected by lawmakers in budget negotiations. The plan includes a range of co-premium rates that retirees would pay.

It would also reduce the ability of retirees to tap unused sick days to offset their insurance payments.

Currently, state retirees who bank enough sick days can have all of their insurance paid.

Under Cuomo's proposal, that would be reduced for people retiring after Oct. 1.

The budget plan also looks at freezing Medicare reimbursement over time. Currently, state retirees are reimbursed for their monthly premiums, which can run $104 per month and higher.

For those 65 or older, Medicare is their primary coverage and the state plan serves as a supplemental policy.

Additionally, the governor's proposal would stop reimbursing a Medicare surcharge the federal government imposes on retirees with incomes of more than $85,000 per year. The surcharge can range from $642 to thousands of dollars per year, according to budget documents.

Health insurance for retirees and outsourcing have been the center of debates for years.

Regarding IT workers, despite the rapid and ongoing evolution in software and hardware, many state agencies use "legacy" computer systems that can be decades old.

The employees know how to operate the aging systems but may not have been trained in newer technologies. And employees have complained about a lack of training being offered in the tech field.

Government efficiency experts have urged shifting to newer technologies including cloud computing, where data is stored at remote, rented locations provided by specialized companies.

Switching massive amounts of data, however can be costly.

Brabham's comments regarding skills and talent focused on the 250 positions, which would entail working with the latest technology.

Still, public sector unions took umbrage.

"The Public Employees Federation takes great exception to the remarks made by Lola Brabham today,'' PEF spokeswoman Jane Briggs said.

"PEF members working in the Office of Information Technology Services are highly educated, highly qualified state workers who are always looking for opportunities for additional training to ensure they have the 'cutting-edge skills' required to help the State provide the most up-to-date technology services New Yorkers need."

rkarlin@timesunion.com • 518-454-5758 • @RickKarlinTU