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Council approves employee compensation study and new HR software amid budget concerns
Summary
Council approved a $39,825 compensation study contract (MGT) and authorized annual subscription and implementation for an applicant-tracking/onboarding system (iSoft); members raised budget and expectation-management concerns as staff said the tools will support recruiting and seasonal onboarding.
The Oskaloosa City Council approved two items on April 6 designed to modernize human-resources work: a one-time contract with MGT to conduct a comprehensive compensation study and a subscription/implementation contract for an applicant-tracking and onboarding system (iSoft).
Staff said 14 proposals were received for the compensation study and that MGT was recommended because of experience with Iowa cities and strong references; the one-time cost presented to council was $39,825. Council members questioned the price, asked whether a lower-cost vendor could provide acceptable results, and emphasized managing employee expectations about what a compensation study does and does not guarantee.
On HR software, staff said the system would streamline posting and applicant tracking, reduce manual paperwork for seasonal hires, and integrate with the city payroll/financial system. City staff described efficiencies for onboarding dozens of seasonal employees and for faster processing of new hires; council approved the annual subscription of $7,560 and a one-time implementation cost of $1,050 as presented.
Why it matters: The actions commit modest one-time funds and recurring subscription costs to tools intended to improve hiring and internal pay-equity analysis; council members framed the measures as investments in staffing efficiency while weighing budget constraints.
Next steps: Staff will execute contracts and begin the compensation study process and the HR-system rollout, and return with updates on results and projected operational changes.
