Saratoga Springs commissioners warn state civil-service ‘transformation’ will shift testing online and carry uncertain costs

At a March 25 meeting, the Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission spent its longest discussion on New York State’s civil service “transformation,” a state-led effort to replace local testing and hiring systems with a vendor-built statewide platform.

Carissa Salvo, the commission’s staff coordinator, said the state has been holding regional forums and publishing FAQs as it develops a job-seeker portal and municipal portal. "They're building the platform," Salvo said, adding that she believes the vendor is "Eightfold" and that the product will support both a job-seeker portal and municipal functions. Salvo said some presentation materials shown at state forums were not released on the state's public site.

Salvo described practical changes she expects: much testing will move to online, computer-based questionnaires — she estimated "90% of it's gonna be online computer based testing questionnaire" — and the scoring approach will be simplified, with candidates receiving markedly different score bands rather than many fine-grained scores. "They're simplifying the scoring system so that you will either receive a 100 or 70," she said, while adding that "everyone's still eligible."

Commissioners pressed on how the platform will affect local control. Salvo said municipalities will need to tighten job descriptions before the transformation so the statewide questionnaires can target the right qualifications; she said she will contact department heads to update job specifications. "We're going to have to reel that in," she said of generalized job statements that now read, for example, "associate's degree in anything."

The commission also discussed whether the statewide applicant pool will complicate local hiring. Salvo noted applicants could live in other regions or states and would typically need to relocate if hired, a point commissioners said raised practical and cost questions.

Cost uncertainty was a recurring concern: Salvo said the state has communicated that there will be costs to municipalities but has not provided figures. "There will be a cost associated with this," she said. "No number, not a range, not an idea." Commissioners warned that, because local budgets are set on strict schedules, late notification of a required allocation could force municipalities to restructure budgets or seek emergency adjustments.

Commissioners agreed to keep the transformation on future agendas and to coordinate with city officials, including the commissioner of finance and the mayor, to seek earlier cost disclosure and plan during the 2027 budget cycle. Salvo said the state maintains an updated FAQ page and that she would continue meetings with the school district and other local entities to discuss implementation.

The commission approved its other agenda items — a slate of personnel appointments and leaves — before adjourning. The commission next meets April 29, 2026.

Sources: Remarks and votes at the Saratoga Springs Civil Service Commission meeting, March 25, 2026. Attribution: Carissa Salvo (staff coordinator); Tim Holmes (chairperson); Commissioners Joanna Zangrando and Jeff Altamari.