Columbus - The state is studying the idea of outsourcing human resource processes to a private company, even though it has already spent $9.1 million to improve the way state employees do the work.
The state wants to know whether it would be better for a private company to handle tasks such as job applications, payroll, civil service test ing and other operations.
A union leader says outsourcing could cost hundreds of state employees their jobs and could mean wasting money already spent to improve state human resources.
Suspended in April, the Ohio Administrative Knowledge System was a $158 million, six-year plan to reorganize statewide human resources, assets and procurement functions.
Bruce Wyngaard, operations direc tor for the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, the union that represents most state workers, said the Taft administration is intent on turning state jobs over to private companies.
However, Beverly Martin, Taft's deputy chief of staff, said no decision has been made on whether to hire a private company.
In June, the state hired BAE Systems of Huntsville, Ala., at a cost of $173,142 as a consultant to study outsourcing state human-resources operations, according to state records obtained by the Columbus Dispatch.
State Budget Director Thomas W. Johnson said privatizing some administrative tasks would be a good way to save money. "Our system needed updating," he said. "We think it's a great opportunity to save money in state government."
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