The Allegany County Personnel Committee voted June 4 to waive candidate fees for county civil-service examinations to help recruitment for hard-to-fill positions, including peace and police officer exams.

A personnel office representative said fewer civil-service exams are being offered across New York State as part of the HELPS plan and that waiving local fees makes applying more attractive. The committee approved a motion to set the county charge to zero "until such time as the personnel officer deems it appropriate to reinstate this."

The presenter said the state has separate authority and that "each entity has their own authority," explaining that even if the county sets its applicant charge to zero it may still owe fees that the state charges when ordering exams. Committee members asked whether the state was acting to waive fees statewide; the presenter said, "I believe that the state itself has waived it. For their exam." The committee voted "Aye" and the motion was recorded as moved.

The county action applies specifically to Allegany County exams; staff described the change as open-ended until the personnel officer determines otherwise.