COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Housing

 

DATE:

October 16, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 28, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING

None

VOTE REQUIRED

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Duane Bay, Director, Department of Housing

SUBJECT:

Senior Accountant Position

 

Recommendation

Adopt an ordinance amending the salary ordinance and waiver of reading the ordinance in its entirety. The deletion of one Housing Community Development (HCD) Specialist III and the addition of a Senior Accountant (E009) for the Department of Housing will provide sufficient staff resources to the department’s fiscal unit without reducing program services.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Fiscal unit for the Housing and Community Development division of the Department of Housing is responsible for financial accounting and reporting for a 19-person staff, $10.3 million budget and $50.5 million loan portfolio. The Fiscal unit’s workload has consistently exceeded the capacity of the unit’s two core positions, Accountant II and FOS. Historically the extra workload has been carried at various times by the Management Analyst, the Financial Services Manager or extra help. At this time, after diligent efforts to reduce workload through operational efficiencies, management has concluded it is necessary to add a Senior Accountant position to the Fiscal unit.

 
 
 

DISCUSSION:

To add the Senior Accountant position to the Fiscal unit without increasing total staff, requires deletion of a vacant existing position. The two alternatives are: a Management Analyst III position the Department is holding open in accordance with the 5% vacancy requirement, and a Housing and Community Development Specialist III position recently vacated due to a retirement. The retiree was part of an eight-person program unit. Department management has determined that remaining staff can carry the current workload in that program units’ without reducing the unit’s ability to meet long-term community needs.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

This action represents an annual cost of $1,586 for the remainder of FY 2008-2009 and $3,172 for FY 2009-2010. The Department of Housing can cover these adjustments in FY 2008-09 with existing appropriation. Ongoing costs can be covered with existing Department of Housing revenue. The Department of Housing is a zero Net County Cost.