Chapter 29, Section 6 states that “The operating budget shall indicate the number of positions proposed to be authorized for each state agency or such other public instrumentality for the ensuing fiscal year, the number of positions for each state agency in the current and ensuing fiscal years and such other information as may be held to explain the anticipated results of the proposed expenditures”.
To address this requirement, the Governor’s budget recommendation includes budgeted Full Time Equivalency (FTE) counts summarized at the Government area level. Additional detail is included throughout the Budget Recommendations to indicate the employee level within specific departments.
Effect of the Budget on Personnel to Date
Annually, the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) provides FTE caps to the Executive Branch Departments, prioritizing hiring in areas where positions are critical for public health and safety or where a position results in additional revenue or cost savings for the Commonwealth. FTE caps are implemented at the department level and reviewed regularly by A&F budget analysts to ensure agencies are taking the necessary steps to live within capped levels. It is important to note that FTEs correspond to budgeted level of staffing during any given fiscal year. For a number of reasons, particularly timing of planned hire dates, actual state employee head count and the number of budgeted FTEs may vary within state agencies. In addition, FTE counts typically are less than employee headcount or jobs, since a portion of state employees do not work full-time schedules.
Between the fall of 2008 and January 2013, the state workforce for jobs in the Executive Branch funded with operating dollars has declined by 3,942 jobs. The reduction can be attributed to layoffs, attrition and retirement across all agencies in the Executive Branch. This trend has been mirrored in the Non-Executive Branch. After accounting for an increase of 2,770 positions in January 2010 corresponding to the transition of seven county sheriffs’ offices to state agencies, total non-Executive budgetary jobs have declined by over 1,870 jobs. When considering employees paid in both branches, from all funding sources, the total state FTEs have decreased by close to 5,000 since FY 2008 (please see FTE discussion in the FY 2013 Statutory Basis Financial Report prepared by the State Comptroller’s Office).
The following chart lists the latest snapshot information. It should be noted that roughly 1,270 transportation FTEs were shifted off-budget in the fall of 2009, while 2,770 sheriff employees were shifted on to the state budget in January 2010. These changes should be accounted for when making historical comparisons.
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House 2 Employment Levels
In reviewing the funding levels available to them for FY 2015, agencies must critically evaluate their employee level and determine further reductions are necessary to maintain a balanced budget. The Governor’s FY 2015 budget recommendation projects a total of 67,202 budgetary FTEs. This amount includes FTEs from both Executive and Non-Executive departments as well as positions funded from the operating accounts listed within the budget. It should be noted that these figures are subject to change, based on various factors including final FY 2015 funding levels, actual payroll spending experience and budgetary guidance issued by A&F during FY 2015 spending plans (July/August 2014).
Workforce Planning Goals