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Commission hears state plan to shift civil service exams to vacancy‑based training-and‑experience model
Summary
Staff coordinator Carissa Salvo reported on a state civil service conference and described a statewide move toward vacancy‑based training-and‑experience (VBT&E) exams, a state pilot for online testing and grading, and raised concerns about rural internet access and local IT bandwidth.
At the June 24 meeting of the Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission, staff coordinator Carissa Salvo briefed commissioners on a New York State Association of Personnel and Civil Service Officers conference and a statewide transition to vacancy‑based training-and‑experience (VBT&E) exams.
Salvo said the state is moving away from the centralized written exams the city has used and toward an online, vacancy‑based model. "What we're moving towards, and you'll become familiar with the term of VBT and E, so it's Vacancy Based Training and Experience," she told commissioners, describing an exam that assigns a baseline score for documented training (a 70) and a higher score (a 100) when occupationally relevant experience is present.
She said the state has asked for volunteers to pilot the new software and grading platform; Salvo said she was asked to participate but that the pilot will require clarity about the time commitment and "bandwidth" needed from a small municipal office. "They were asking for volunteers for different work groups... I wasn't immediately raising my hand to volunteer for the pilot program," she said, adding that she was later invited to join the pilot and would provide more details once available.
Salvo noted the state expects the new model to be used for most exams but that corrections, police, fire and dispatch will continue to use the centralized Saturday written exam and graded hierarchy. She also flagged equity and access concerns, saying rural counties worry about reliable Wi‑Fi and device access and noting the state plans a small number of computer‑based training centers across New York.
Commissioners discussed the operational impacts on local HR and IT. Salvo said the city will continue to use legacy roster maintenance (eGov) while transitioning personnel files, and she advised keeping IT apprised of the pilot to avoid unforeseen bandwidth demands.
Salvo said grading turnaround is expected to be quicker under the new model, which may reduce the need for provisional appointments. She emphasized ongoing uncertainty around rollout timing; while the state initially aimed for 2027, she said she now expects changes to be more likely in 2028.
The commission asked Salvo to share conference materials and the state presentations when available.
