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Release No. FS-0501 |
Contact: |
Heidi Valetkevitch, (202) 205-1089 |
USDA FOREST SERVICE TO CENTRALIZE
HUMAN RESOURCES FUNCTIONS IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2004 – U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service said today it will
centralize its human resources (HR) functions at a single location
in Albuquerque, N.M.—for an anticipated savings of $20 million
a year.
“This decision demonstrates the agency’s
commitment to becoming leaner, more efficient and more cost effective,”
said Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth. “A single center,
unifying all HR operations, will provide the most consistent and
cost effective service for our employees and managers. In addition,
we will be more responsive to taxpayers.”
The choice to centralize units resulted from
a year-long, agency-wide review of HR performance prompted by the
2000 President’s Management Agenda, which encourages federal
departments to become more efficient and cost effective.
The study found that the main reason the cost
of administering human resources in the Forest Service is much higher
than HR costs of other organizations in the public and private sectors
is because the agency is so decentralized.
Positions in Albuquerque will total nearly 300;
the remaining 130 will be distributed throughout the agency. The
Forest Service expects the move to begin in 2006.
Changes anticipated by the decision include:
- faster and higher quality service for HR customers;
- agency-wide consistency of standard processes and procedures;
- lower cost for the delivery of HR services; and
- alignment with HR industry performance measures.
Results of the review follow a June 1 decision
to consolidate the Forest Service’s budget and finance operations
at a single location, which is also expected to result in a significant
savings for the agency. The Forest Service announced yesterday that
the San Francisco and Pan American building, located within the
Journal Center in Albuquerque, is the site for the agency’s
national financial services center, which will house more than 350
employees. The center, referred to as the Albuquerque Service Center,
will begin providing financial services to the agency nationwide
beginning in mid-October. It is anticipated that the human resources
operations will be housed at the same location.
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