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DEW requests $1.6M for IT shared services, seeks retention pay for regional workforce advisors
Summary
Department of Employment and Workforce Director William Floyd told the subcommittee DEW requests just under $1.6 million to transition IT to Department of Administration shared services and $325,560 for recruitment/retention; the agency also seeks a one‑time $887,000 migration budget and a proviso date change to 07/01/2026.
William Floyd, executive director of the Department of Employment and Workforce, presented DEW’s fiscal requests to the Senate subcommittee, emphasizing IT modernization and staffing retention needs.
Floyd said DEW’s total IT modernization request is a little under $1.6 million and has two components: an estimated $1.2 million recurring cost to transition core IT functions (cloud disaster recovery, networking, firewall, servers and storage) into shared services provided by the Department of Administration, and $325,560 in recurring funds to recruit and retain IT and information security personnel to close pay gaps.
Floyd said retention is a pressing issue because “93% of our IT team is paid below the state average,” and the agency is seeing higher IT turnover than overall departmental turnover. To cover one‑time migration costs, DEW requested $887,000 for consultants and vendors to execute the physical server and service transition; Floyd said that estimate came from the Department of Administration and the agency considers it sound.
On workforce services, Floyd updated the committee on last year’s near‑$10 million appropriation for the Find Your Future portal and described progress: appointment of Dr. Rebecca Battle Bryant as director of the Office of Statewide Workforce Development, continued modernization of the existing Find Your Future website, retention of a consultant to develop the RFP for the central portal, and plans to go to market this calendar year. Floyd distinguished the current dynamic website from the planned central portal that will integrate inputs from multiple agencies and education partners.
Floyd also requested funding to cover an already‑approved 2% general salary increase for approximately 12 regional workforce advisors (RWAs) who connect employers and educators; those positions are funded from EIA funds and the agency asked EIA support to reflect the 2% raise. Finally, DEW requested a technical change to a proviso date, updating 07/01/2025 to 07/01/2026.
Members asked about procurement and technology risk, with one member expressing concern that rapid developments in AI and other technologies could make current investments obsolete. Floyd said DEW coordinates with the Department of Administration and relies on subject‑matter experts in procurement and implementation.
The subcommittee thanked DEW for the briefing and closed the hearing; the committee will reconvene on Feb. 18 for additional agency presentations.
