County waives fees for civil service exams for remainder of 2023
Effort aimed at increasing applicants for open positions in county government
Katie Harvey
ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has voted to waive the cost for taking civil service exams for the remainder of 2023 in a measure to boost recruitment for open positions in county government.
The Legislature’s move follows Gov. Kathy Hochul’s announcement on June 30 that the state would eliminate the fees for state civil service exams, beginning on July 1, 2023 through December 2025.
The county has been struggling to fill many open positions and the number of people taking civil service exams is down significantly from a few years ago.
“We are trying to up our recruitment numbers,” said Katie Harvey, the county’s director of personnel and self insurance. “We are hoping this improves our exam candidate numbers.”
Harvey noted that 20 to 25 people took the civil service exam for social welfare examiner in 2016. Only three people took the test last month. With that position in the Department of Social Services, the examiner helps determine benefit eligibility for public assistance.
It cost people $10 to take continuous recruitment exams. Some upcoming exams include account clerk, account clerk typist, caseworker, clerk, computer specialist, custodian, keyboard specialist, secretary and water treatment plant operator trainee.
It’s $20 for state-written exams offered outside the normal recruitment at the county. Some of those recent exams included positions for case supervisor, civil clerk, correction officer, environmental health specialist, payroll clerk, principal clerk, probation director, probation officer, and social welfare examiner.
Those fees will now be waived for the remainder of the year in Orleans County.
Harvey urges people to consider a career with the county government.
“I think it’s a great place to work,” she said.
The Personnel Department lists the following job postings:
- animal control officer, part-time
- caseworker
- clerk
- clinic therapist
- community mental health nurse
- deputy director of Planning and Development
- deputy director of Real Property Tax Services
- environmental health specialist, part-time
- examination monitor
- housekeeper aide
- motor equipment operator
- motor vehicle application examiner
- public health nurse
- real property appraisal technician
- receptionist, part-time
- senior child support specialist
- senior legal assistant
- senior social welfare examiner
- social welfare examiner
- supportive case manager
- investigator – Major Felony Crime Task Force
- superintendent of Streets and Sewer
- supervising investigator – Major Felony Crime Task Force
For more information, click here to be directed to the Personnel Department’s website.
