ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE ONONDAGA COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

$15.00 Non-Refundable Application Fee (Payable by check or money order to Chief Fiscal Officer, or by VISA or MC. Cash will be accepted only if paying in person.)

SALARY AND VACANCIES: Changing conditions may make it necessary to certify for future vacancies at higher or lower salaries than those announced.

This title exists in the following jurisdictions;
Onondaga County Office of Management and Budget, $49,189 - $68,478 (2007)
Onondaga County Department of Health, $49,189 - $68,478 (2007)
Syracuse City School District

The resulting open competitive eligible list will be used to fill future vacancies in any jurisdiction where the title exists.

DUTIES: The work involves responsibility for the analysis of municipal programs and services to formulate standards as related to budget administration. Does related work as required.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT FOR OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION:
Candidates must have resided in the United States of America or one of its territories for not less than one (1) month immediately preceding the date of exam. Preference in appointment may be given to local residents. Appointments to positions in some municipalities are subject to residence requirements pursuant to local laws.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On the date of examination, candidates must meet the following requirements:

OPEN COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration or a closely related field; or,

B. Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and two (2) years of professional level work experience, or its part-time equivalent, in program operations, planning and evaluation, productivity analysis, budget administration, budget research, capital program analysis, capital budgetary planning or a closely related field to the aforementioned; or,

C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

NOTE: If you expect to complete the educational requirement by August 31, 2008, you can be admitted to this examination. If successful on the examination, you will not be certified for appointment until you have submitted proof of completion of the requirements to the Onondaga County Department of Personnel. Proof must be submitted by October 31, 2008.

Volunteer Experience: Volunteer experience will be allowed to substitute for paid work experience as long as the volunteer experience is equivalent in nature to the paid work experience required for the position.


SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be a written test, which you must pass in order to be considered for appointment. The written test will be designed to test for knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Administrative analysis
These questions test for a knowledge of the principles and practices used in administrative analysis. You will be required to answer factual and situational questions in areas dealing with planning, developing, implementing, analyzing, evaluating, and improving existing or proposed components of an organization, such as organization structures, job structures, information systems, management control systems, programs and policies, and work methods and procedures. The questions include such topics as the purpose of these activities, the tools used in the activities, and the basic rules of their use.

2. Budgeting
These questions are designed to test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in governmental budgeting and may include, but not necessarily be restricted to, terminology associated with the budgeting process and budget cycle; the selecting of data for analysis (summarization and synthesis) in order to make inferences and draw conclusions which will provide a basis for making budget recommendations; applying analysis techniques to data (computation skills); the techniques involved in and factors affecting forecasting and trend analysis; presenting budget information at the level of analysis and type of perspective appropriate to the needs of each person/entity that you are communicating with; and actions associated with budget execution such as analysis of program outcomes or responding to situational changes after a budget has been passed.

3. Preparing written material
These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

4. Understanding and interpreting tabular material
These questions test your ability to understand, analyze, and use the internal logic of data presented in tabular form. You may be asked to perform tasks such as completing tables, drawing conclusions from them, analyzing data trends or interrelationships, and revising or combining data sets. The concepts of rate, ratio, and proportion are tested. Mathematical operations are simple, and computational speed is not a major factor in the test.

5. Understanding and interpreting written material
These questions test how well you comprehend written material. You will be provided with brief reading selections and will be asked questions about the selections. All the information required to answer the questions will be presented in the selections; you will not be required to have any special knowledge relating to the subject areas of the selections.

CALCULATORS: Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, `Spell Checkers,' `Personal Digital Assistants,' `Address Books,' `Language Translators,' `Dictionaries,' or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials. You may not bring cellular phones, beepers, pagers, or headphones.

NO TEST GUIDE AVAILABLE - Test Guides published by the New York State Department of Civil Service are usually targeted to specific, entry-level titles. Test Guides are not provided for every examination. Candidates should focus their examination preparation upon the "Subjects of Examination" and other information listed on the examination announcement.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Applications and credit card payment forms may be obtained in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or downloaded at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center.

APPLICATION FEE: Although a separate application is required for each examination number, candidates applying for more than one examination may pay all fees with a single check/money order or credit card form. You may pay by check, money order or by VISA or MasterCard, payable to “Chief Fiscal Officer”. Cash will be accepted only if paying in person. Payment must accompany your application(s) (indicate examination number(s) on your check or money order).
APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. You are, therefore, urged to carefully compare your qualifications with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. If proofs (i.e. copy of license, certification, or transcript) are required, be sure that they accompany your application.
If you want “Proof That You Submitted Your Application and/or Examination Fee”, ask for a receipt or, if mailing your application, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope and request a receipt.
NOTE: A bounced check fee will be charged to you for any checks returned. Unless such fees are paid in full, you will not be permitted to participate in any examination(s) or be considered for appointment from resultant eligible lists. In addition, any subsequent application fees will not be refunded unless all such fees are paid in full.

FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments (SSI); or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance of Safety Net Assistance); or are receiving Foster Care or are certified Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete an “Application Fee Waiver Request and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business at 4:30pm on the last file date as listed on the Examination Announcement.
The “Application Fee Waiver Request and Certification” form can be found in our office lobby or on our website in the Document Center.

EVALUATION OF FOREIGN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION: If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States or it's territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies providing this service may be obtained in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self-addressed, stamped envelope) or downloaded at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center.. You will be responsible for the required evaluation fee.

ADDITIONAL CREDIT TO CHILDREN OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY:
In conformance with section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline date to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established.

VETERAN CREDITS: War veterans applying for additional credit must submit a copy of their DD-214 (discharge papers) with their application for examination or by one month following the date of examination. Veteran’s Credit Instructions and Application Forms are available in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel, by mail (include a self addressed stamped envelope) or online at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center. Veteran’s credit can only be added to a passing score on the examination. No credit may be granted after the establishment of the list. Candidates currently in the armed forces may apply for and be conditionally granted veteran’s credit in examinations. Any candidate who applies for conditional credit must provide proof of their military status with their application for examination or by one month following the date of examination. When discharged, it is the responsibility of the candidate to provide appropriate documentary proof, indicating that service was in time of war, as defined in Section 85 of the Civil Service Law, and that the candidate received an honorable discharge or was released under honorable conditions in order to be certified at a score including the veteran’s credit.

APPLICATION DEADLINE POLICY: All applications along with application fees or proofs of waiver must be submitted to the Onondaga County Department of Personnel before the close of business at 4:30 p.m. on the date of last file as listed on the Examination announcement. Applications received via U.S. Mail will be accepted only if postmarked on or before the Application Deadline. Applications that are received through inter-office mail after the Application Deadline or that are submitted to any other department, office or agency and are not received in the Department of Personnel by the Application Deadline will not be accepted.

MILITARY APPLICANTS: In accordance with Section 243 of Military Law, military personnel serving on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during the filing period may be permitted to file an application for the examination after the application deadline date, but prior to the scheduled date of the examination. Contact the Onondaga County Personnel Department at (315)435-3537 for further information.

EXAM INFORMATION:
EXAM NOTICE: Candidates found eligible will be notified when and where to appear for examination. If you have not received notice of the examination location three (3) days prior to the examination, contact the Examination Unit at 435-3537. If an application is disapproved, due notice will be sent. Reasons for disapproval may be discussed with the reviewer.

FOR EMERGENCY CANCELLATION OF EXAMINATIONS TUNE TO: WIXT NEWS CHANNEL 9, WTVH NEWS CHANNEL 5, NEWS 10 NOW or any Clear Channel Radio Station.

EXAM ACCOMMODATIONS: If you desire accommodation at the exam site due to disability, please indicate the disability and desired conditions necessary to accommodate your disability on the application or on a paper attached firmly to your application.
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION: Applicants whose religious beliefs prevent them from taking examinations on the scheduled date should indicate the need for special arrangements on their application.

EXAM RATING: When the written examination is prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law, the provision of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations will apply.

ELIGIBLE LIST: Eligible lists are established, on average, within three months after the examination date. In accordance with the New York State Civil Service Law, an eligible list must remain in existence for one year from the date of its establishment or until there are no candidates left who are willing to accept appointment, whichever occurs first. The Personnel Commissioner may extend the list beyond one year to a maximum of four years. Agencies are required to hire from the eligible list according to the rule of three (see our FAQ document for examples of the Rule of Three). All candidates at the highest score are immediately eligible for consideration for appointment. Candidates at lower scores can only be considered when there are fewer than 3 candidates at the highest score.
When the eligible list is established you will be able to view the current eligible list and your status on-line by going to www.ongov.net/Employment/jobs/ and simply clicking the link to Civil Service Exam Test Results.

CANDIDATE FITNESS: Inquires may be made as to character and ability of all candidates. All statements made by candidates are subject to verification. Falsification of any part of the “Application for Employment” may result in disqualification and possible legal action.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS ON THE SAME TEST DATE FOR MORE THAN ONE CITY, COUNTY OR *STATE CIVIL SERVICE AGENCY: If you have applied for examinations in more than one Local government (City or County agencies), you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site.
You must make your request for these arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examination. You must notify all agencies with which you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examination(s).
For Onondaga County examinations complete a Cross Filer Notification form, available in person from the Onondaga County Department of Personnel or online at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center, and send to Onondaga County Dept of Personnel, 421 Montgomery St 13th Fl, Syracuse NY 13202 OR FAX to 315-435-8272. OR call 315-435-3537.
*If you have applied for both State and Local government examinations, you must make arrangements to take all your examinations at the State examination center by calling (518) 474-6470 in the Albany area or toll free at (877) 697-5627 (press 2, then press 1), no later than two weeks before the test date.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: It is the responsibility of the candidate to notify the Onondaga County Personnel Department in writing of any change in address. No attempt will be made by this department to locate candidates who have moved. Address change forms are available in the Personnel Department during normal office hours or online at www.ongov.net/Employment/document_center.

MILITARY MAKE-UP EXAMINATION: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but is deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY can be provided with a special military make-up examination upon written request to the Onondaga County Personnel Department. The applicant must submit a copy of military orders, DD214, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at the time of the examination. Request must be no later than sixty (60) days after release from active duty.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPOINTMENT IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES: Per Chapter 180 of the Laws of 2000, and by Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, to be employed in a position designated by a school district or BOCES as involving contact with students, a clearance for employment from the State Education Department is required.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ACT OF 1985, candidates for appointment to Onondaga County government positions which involve regular and substantial contact with children will be required to complete a State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment clearance form. Failure to complete this form may result in decertification of your name from this eligible list for appointments in Onondaga County.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT DRUG TESTING: Candidates for appointment or promotion to Onondaga County government positions that are designated as safety sensitive are required to undergo pre-employment drug testing for alcohol and drugs after a conditional offer of employment has been extended and prior to any applicant’s performance of a safety-sensitive function.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in disqualification.

SPECIAL NECESSARY REQUIREMENT: Candidates for appointment or promotion to positions in Onondaga County government which require the operation of motor vehicles must, at the time of appointment, possess an appropriate NY State drivers license and a dependable personal vehicle or must have reasonable access to private/public transportation.