Q&A
Discussion on civil service exam fees, waivers, and their impact
1:52:34
·
5 min
Council Member Restler raises concerns about civil service exam fees and inquires about fee waivers. Deputy Commissioner Porter explains DCAS's experience with fee waivers and current fee structure.
- DCAS previously waived fees for some public safety exams but found it ineffective due to high no-show rates
- Exam fees range from $40 for entry-level positions to about $100 for promotional exams
- Fee waivers are available for vulnerable populations, veterans, and certain public assistance recipients
- Approximately 20% of exam applicants apply for fee waivers
- DCAS is required by civil service law to charge exam fees
Lincoln Restler
1:52:34
Well, we certainly I think it's a very positive development.
1:52:38
Any greater opportunities for us to further consolidate or create more opportunities from bridge exams, I think, is a is a great thing.
1:52:47
So we'd welcome any information you can share about plans to expand in the future.
1:52:52
And I recognize that with the development or the creation of bridge exams, we are making it more affordable for test takers.
1:52:59
Right?
1:52:59
So instead of having to take pay for a fee for 3 or 4 or 5, 10 different tests, with bridge exams, you may it it's reduced.
1:53:07
But I'm still kinda confounded that we charge the way that we do for people to take exams.
1:53:15
The state recently, announced that it was waiving all civil service civil service exam fees until 2025 to reduce barriers and help fill state vacancies.
1:53:27
Has DCAS considered waiving of exam fees?
Katrina Porter
1:53:31
There have been instances where we have, waived exam fees for public safety exams, and we found that that is not an effective, recruitment model.
1:53:42
We we we saw an uptick in applications, but then those folks actually did not, show up for the actual examination.
1:53:49
And so, hence, that's why
Lincoln Restler
1:53:50
When did that happen?
Katrina Porter
1:53:51
This was I believe it was, fiscal year 20, 22 and 23.
1:53:55
We had waived, exam fees for police officer, correction officer, and a few other public safety titles, traffic enforcement agent, school safety agent.
1:54:04
And it had an adverse impact, on our resources.
1:54:08
And, It
Lincoln Restler
1:54:09
had an adverse impact because you found that the people who were passing the exam were not actually interested in or meeting your criteria for
Katrina Porter
1:54:19
No.
1:54:19
It was the folks who applied for the exam, so they went through the application process.
1:54:23
They actually did not show up to sit for the exam.
Lincoln Restler
1:54:26
Oh, okay.
1:54:27
So we had a no show rate.
1:54:28
That was the problem.
Katrina Porter
1:54:29
Yes.
1:54:30
And then, you know, we also have standard fee waivers for, folks, you know, some of our more more vulnerable populations, veterans, folks who may receive Medicaid or public assistance, spouses of veterans are all all eligible for fee waivers.
Lincoln Restler
1:54:46
Okay.
1:54:47
How much does it how much would it cost?
1:54:51
Do how much do you know is it one fee?
1:54:53
Is it the same fee for the exam for every exam?
Katrina Porter
1:54:56
So the the, exam fees are commensurate to the salary for the position.
Lincoln Restler
1:55:00
So it
Katrina Porter
1:55:01
varies from $40, for most of our entry level exams upwards to, I would say, like, $100 for our, promotion exams.
Lincoln Restler
1:55:12
Okay.
1:55:13
And so do you know how much revenue we generate on exams?
1:55:17
I'm just trying to do some math.
Carmen De La Rosa
1:55:19
I
Katrina Porter
1:55:19
can get back to you on that number.
1:55:20
I don't have it handy today.
Lincoln Restler
1:55:29
Okay.
1:55:30
You know, 1,000,000 of dollars.
1:55:36
Do you have you considered so your concern is that by waiving the operational concern of no shows is the primary concern.
1:55:45
Did it have other benefits that countered the no show issue?
1:55:52
Because I would think there are operational ways we might be able to solve for people not showing up, that they have to, you know, confirm via text the day before or some other mechanism, you know, to to verify attendance?
1:56:05
Were there any other benefits that you identified?
Katrina Porter
1:56:08
So I think it's also important to mention that we, we charge exam fees as per, you know, civil service law.
1:56:15
We're required to charge exam fees.
1:56:17
So if we're gonna make any, large scale changes to how we manage that process, we would we would need to consult our legal department.
Lincoln Restler
1:56:24
Right.
1:56:25
I just you know, it's notable that they've been waived at the state level.
1:56:28
We have a ton of vacancies.
1:56:29
Henry Garrido testified to 22,000 of them.
1:56:32
We're desperately trying to fill them.
1:56:33
It's having real significant impacts on our parks and our social services, 911 emergency responses.
1:56:39
I would think that anything we could do to help address that would be helpful.
Katrina Porter
1:56:42
What I can share is that, approximately 20% of our exam applicants do apply for fee waivers.
1:56:50
And so that that is, we feel like that is a a great way to provide, our vulnerable population.
1:56:57
Right.
Lincoln Restler
1:56:58
But you wonder how many more of those people might apply if they knew that they had access to a waiver or weren't gonna pay.
1:57:05
And we've been joined by council member Gennaro.
1:57:06
Thank you for being with us.
1:57:08
Did you wanna jump in on something before I strip gears to higher health?
Kadian Outar
1:57:10
Sorry.
1:57:11
I was just gonna, add in that sometimes it's the awareness of the fee waivers.
1:57:15
So when we the
Lincoln Restler
1:57:20
You turn on the mic.
Kadian Outar
1:57:22
Sorry.
1:57:22
So was just going to add that, a part of it is the awareness of the fee waiver.
1:57:26
So whenever we go out into the public to share information about city government, we make the fee waivers a regular part of our presentation so folks are familiar with the process and where they can go to access those fee waivers.
1:57:38
So we do, heavy market in with that.
1:57:41
Okay.
Lincoln Restler
1:57:41
I mean, I I yeah.
