Racine Mayor Gary Becker's budget contains another surprise: he proposes to outsource the city's Management Information Systems department to Velocity Partners Inc. of Brookfield.The department normally includes five employees and a director, but the top spot has been vacant since July when Dennis John left to join Milwaukee County's MIS department. His position paid about $100,000 a year in salary and benefits, and the entire department is budgeted to spend $1.1 to $1.2 million this year.
Privatizing would save the city at least $100,000 annually, the mayor believes.
The deal with Velocity Partners, if approved by the City Council, would include jobs for all of the affected employees at equivalent pay and benefits.
The department's staff heard the news from new City Administrator Ben Hughes, who said the mayor spoke highly of their efforts, especially since John left. "He values what the MIS deparment has been doing, but there are projects we haven't been able to get to."
Hughes likened the role of the MIS department to "the spine amongst the body" of the other 12 city departments; it's the only one that doesn't deal with constituencies outside city governement, but the whole of city government relies upon it.
Besides the five employees in the MIS department, the city has used outside contractors, paid $18 to $35 an hour, to provide "as-needed services," which Velocity can do more efficiently.
"MIS changes so rapidly, that government doesn't have the flexibility to keep up with it," Hughes said.
The mayor's proposal would keep two positions on the city payroll, a director and a clerical/administrative person. Salary and benefits for the director would be about $100,000; for the second person, $59,000.
The affected MIS employees would benefit from joining a company where they could receive advanced training.
Outsourcing is the trend in MIS, Hughes said, noting that Racine County privatized its MIS department to Velocity Partners a few years ago. Other Velocity clients include M&I Bank and Harley-Davidson.
The budget was finalized Thursday night and sent to the printer, for delivery to the City Council on Monday.
"Hughes likened the role of the MIS department to 'the spine amongst the body' of the other 12 city departments; it's the only one that doesn't deal with constituencies outside city government, but the whole of city government relies upon it."
ReplyDeleteYeah, therefore outsource it so that if the "spine" ever develops a problem, it is completely out of our control while "the whole of city government relies upon it." Look what happened when we outsourced the collection of ticket fines: utter chaos. So now we're going to outsource the entire IS dept? Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.
Outsource Becker's job. Wait, we already do that. The City Administrator now does the mayor's job so that Becker can continue to drink and travel on the taxpayer's dime. Someone's gotta pay for that, so we might as well eliminate the "spine" of the city, right?
The MIS director will be a city employee though, so I don't see this as a bad thing necessarily. THe outsourced employees won't be in another city like the collection of ticket fines, they will be sitting right in city hall and answering directly to the employees.
ReplyDeleteI've read about new positions being added to the budget, and after all these eliminations I don't feel any new positions should be added, at least not now.
Sorry I do not buy the idea that MIS should be outsourced. There are too many things that can go wrong and then it would take years to repair.
ReplyDeleteThe Civic Center is one thing Garbage might be another however MIS like police and Fire must be under the control of the City.
Please someone tell me why we are cutting police/Fire the Head of HR
to hire a GRANT WRITER and CITY ADMIN?
I at one time used to be a hard core surporter of the Mayor. Over the last few days that has started to change.
I do not understand how the Mayor can travel around the world/Country as this City sinks into economic ruin. To hire a grant writer at 90K when I would think that maybe we have city empolyees who could do that or even perhaps work with NGO on Grants vs spening 90K (or one or two police) is just foolish.)
I hope that in his speech he will explain this better.
I agree Colt that the city should not be hiring a grant writer when they are having to let go other more crucial jobs. Grants are already being written by existing employees.
ReplyDeleteThe city administrator has a different role than the mayor - 2 different and separate jobs. I think people need to quit getting hung up on that job and take a closer look at the salaries and positions of others in City hall. The salaries will surprise you.
Colt I think you are assuming that the current MIS department is doing a good job?
Yes I am if they are not then The city can do something about it now. If it is outsourced how long would it take to get change? Look at RUSD, how long will it take RUSD to get rid of that BS. And I know we would have the City Lawyer look at any contact but I would hope RUSD did with there too.
ReplyDeleteIf your going to outsourse something think, Garbage or maybe the basic park stuff like grass mowing but not MIS.
Myself I disagree with the role of having a City Adim. Why? How does that save us time or money? I can be wrong please explaine
It's like Becker turned into Nero. He's partying away while the city burns.
ReplyDeleteThe trip to France was final straw for me. He needs to be in his office working or at city hall at least 20 or 30 hours a week and then spend the remaining 40 hours doing things that call him out of city hall. And not in France.
He put so much in to Point Blue but never thought about the real estate plunge that could have and is happening now. What was his back up plan for that land?
He's so arrogant it's repulsive.
who did pay for all those people to go to France?
ReplyDeleteI will not blame Becker for Point Blue a downturn can not be predicted. I will blame the "newspaper" for not reporting on it.
ReplyDeleteGoing to France was not the wisest thing to have done. Now he is going to Green events in the USA why? Saving engery is a good idea for the city to do but why the mayor and not Dr Jones? Then too should not all travil for this sort of thing stop before one policeman is laid off.
I think the Mayor nor Council has a clue on how angry this city is about Crime Taxes and just plan fed up with the old guard
Everyone who went to France paid for their own trips, including mayor Becker. What is supposed to be wrong with taking a trip to France as long as the taxpayers aren't paying for it? I think even a mayor deserves some sort of vacation.
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned the mayor should be at his desk 20-30 hours per week. Why at his desk? What should he be doing at his desk exactly? Many of a mayor's duties take him out around the city to different meetings and events. I'd say the opposite in that if he were sitting at his desk everyday, then he isn't doing his job as mayor.
What does the city or the mayor personally have into Pointe Blue? As far as I know, they haven't invested anything.
I can also speak for the MIS department at city hall, no they are not doing a good job. At least if the department is outsourced they might get some better trained people in there. It is difficult to force change and training on union employees and I'm pretty sure most of the MIS is union.
There is at least one if not more TEMPS working at the MIS in City Hall. The one I know is very highy trained. I would like proof that there is trouble at MIS DOCUMETED proof.
ReplyDeleteWhen Racine is in so much troulbe the leader(s) be it the Mayor on Council members need to be here not overseas unless France has an answer to out trouble.
Everyone should be able to take a vacation but when the City is in trouble the vaction should be around here if at all.
Many Busness leaders can not take a break if there busness is not doing well. Perhaps The Mayor should rethink if the City is in trouble.
The Mayor's job like the Councle's job is not only siting at the dest BUT as well out on the street, The Mayor AND councle are not doing there job if they are spending 40 hours a week at it.
Again I do not Blame the Mayor for point blue but the "newspaper" has not. Is there more to this story? Time will tell. It will not be the Jounal Times.
The TEMP employees you are referring to in MIS are NOT City Hall employees, they are contracted employees and I agree the contracted employees I have met are very well trained. But once again, those are NOT City positions.
ReplyDeleteYour comment that because Racine is "in trouble" so therefore the mayor should not go on any vacations is pretty ridiculous if you think about it. What exactly will change by him staying in Racine, foregoing all vacations and sitting at his desk? Will money magically appear in his desk drawers if he keeps watching them?
Or, you say he should only go to France if France has an answer to our troubles. I guess that would mean he can't go anywhere on vacation unless the vacation destination has an answer to our troubles? WTF???
I see mayor Becker at evening meetings and just heard him on the radio today (Saturday), so I can say with all certainty he is working more than 40 hours. I can't speak for all the aldermen, but I know some of them put in a great deal of time though they have to keep their day job too, an aldermanic position does not pay the bills.
A leader leads simple. That means working when others rest.
ReplyDeleteBeing an example leading by example.
Going to France is not that. Going to France is seeking glory.
Seeking glory as your city goes down hill is not leading by example.
Seeking Glory as you gut the police Dept is not a good idea.
Leading by example would say walking with the RPD the city streets to understand why the RPD is the last thing to be cut.
The Council needs to step up too. They need to find away to find the money to keep the RPD intact and MIS part of the City.
We too need to step up to the plate by telling your reps what you want to see happen.
We have spent way too much time on the Johnson Wax toy (Downtown Racine) We have allowed hair brain ideas to take root (the Uptown Artist Project) and far too little time with the nuts and bolts. Bringing new busness real busness not art galleries to the city.
Reforming the RPD ( lets try not responding to ADT alarms) using Communty Policing before we cut the force.
That would be Leadership that would take Courage Becker has both I hope he shows it.
Oh what a bunch of dribble. How traveling to France is seeking glory is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard. If the mayor decided his vacation was going to be a week in Detroit would you still take issue with it? Because it's far away it's somehow seeking glory? It's not exactly flying to the moon, it's only FRANCE. Sounds like you haven't been beyond the Wisconsin Dells on a trip.
ReplyDeleteI'd argue Becker DOES work when others rest, unless you somehow have proof that shows otherwise? Actually, Becker DOES walk the streets, and he does do ride alongs with the PD. You assume many things but it's due to your lack of knowledge about the subject.
I'd also argue any business is better than no business, unless you prefer the delapitated state of the current buildings in uptown with disgusting slum apartments on the second floors and vacant store fronts.
I will agree we need more police officers, not less. And, if we are eliminating police officers we sure as heck should not be creating a position like a grant writer which is totally unnecessary.
But as for MIS, you've already stated the temp employees in MIS are good, so you've pretty much proven the point that outsourcing MIS is going to be a postive change.
RR
ReplyDeleteWe can fire a temp by just saying goodby can we do that if we outsourse I think not.
Detroit would be a good choise due to there being a real sinking ship. Perhaps the Mayor could learn from them what not to do.
I would tear down the uptown myself.
And no Art Galleries that open then close two months later are not the busness that we should be spending money on bring to Racine Funny that the city that who's program we are coping is also marketing themselfs to Wisconsin Busness as a place to relocate.
I belive that the Mayor rides along and goes to lots of meeting
at the same time was getting the gloy of the visting France that had him go or he could have simply went to Door County.
Myself I would not go to France on a bet but that is me.
If the city outsources and the company does not live up to their end of the bargain, why would you think the city couldn't get rid of them? It would be a heck of a lot easier than trying to fire a union employee.
ReplyDeleteSure the mayor could have gone to Door County, but that would also be a vacation and would take him away from his desk, which seems to be your issue. He would also probably not find answers to problems in Racine in Door County, another one of your issues.
But if you are now saying a vacation is OK, why would you take issue with France if that's what the mayor and his family wanted to do? What do you consider so glorious about going to France? What's the real issue other than you sound like you don't like France?
I would personally love to go to France. Given a choice between Door County or France, I'd be out the door with a suitcase and a passport in a flash. But that's just me. Thankfully we are all able to make our own vacation choices, but it sounds like you expect the mayor to have his vacation plans approved by you first.
Where the mayor and his family go on vacation is their choice and entirely up to them, not you. Get over it.
the mayor seems to grab the spotlight every single chance he gets. That's glory grabbing.
ReplyDeleteHe sure does spend time away from his desk and stays in the city a lot. I've heard from so many people that they were in bars all over the city and had seen him drinking and girl watching. He leers is what they've said to me. The young women say he's kind of creepy because of his age being so much older than them.
Bartenders all have jokes about him because of this. Something about one drink he's looking, two drinks he staring, three drinks he at some girls table making jokes about city business to empress her.
this doesn't sound like a man who's got his mind on his duties. everyone needs a break, but shouldn't he be taking these bar breaks with his wife? I don't think a scandal will do the city any good right now.
Colt is just pissed because he didn't make any money on his "film festival" last year.
ReplyDeleteHe should also question his "sources" down at city hall. The grant write he talks about is not a new position and is not being paid $90k a year.
The mayor went to France to participate in a sister city event in Montelemar because they were here last year. What is wrong with that? He went on his own dime and honored a city that the year previous had honored us. That pagentry is part of the gig when you are a mayor.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything on the last post except this, the grant writer is indeed a new position, there is not a person in city hall that currently has a job called a grant writer. If so, who is it? Will this person, if they are still working with the city, be leaving this job soon? Will the city wait till this person is gone before they hire this grant writer?
ReplyDeleteWhat department is this person in? Is it a union position? Will this new grant writer position be in the same department? Will the new position also be union? Will the job description remain as it is?
Sorry anonymous, most people at city hall know what's going on, except you.
I'm sure Julie Dresen is very happy about the grant writer position. Her time at the bars with the mayor truly paid off.
ReplyDeleteColt got his information from the J-T. Please bitch at them if the number is off.
ReplyDeleteAgain something that RR overlooked (a lot) I like the Mayor just like anyone else he can make mistakes and do things I do not think is right.
I belive he may have lost touch with what is going on. We need Police far more then a Grant writer. We need Police far more then a City Adim.
RUSD proved what can happen when you outsource.
For all you Becker bashers, I'll say this again: Where were you during last spring's election cycle? (cue the crickets).
ReplyDeleteNobody had the cajones to take him on!!
Therefore, you have forfeited your right to bitch. Case closed.
I've got no problems with Becker personally, but to say nobody dare criticize or question him because nobody ran against him is a pretty arrogant and irrational way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteNobody ever forfeits their right to bitch. I would not want to run for office and would never consider it, but those that are in elected office are held to public scrutiny whether they like it or not.
We had nobody else to vote for besides Becker, but that doesn't mean he can do no wrong.
I like it that Mayor Becker steps outside this community. Racine must have progressive, sustainable, relevant ideas to help itself. I bet our sister city controls traffic in their downtown areas, has respect for its residents, practices an appreciation for what is old and natural, etc.
ReplyDeleteMIS is an important department. There are a few departments in City Hall which are back in the fifties and if outsourcing locally keeps MIS current,it's a good idea.