Summary
PICA’s Staff Report on the City’s overtime usage revealed rising overtime costs among key departments for the fifth straight fiscal year, reaching $170 million in FY16. The City spent $45 million more than was budgeted for overtime among these departments for the fiscal year. PICA warns that continuously rising overtime costs have the potential to adversely impact the City’s fund balances, which are not projected to reach pre-recession levels over the life of the current Five-Year Financial Plan. PICA’s Overtime Report also found: · City departments have not met overtime budgets since FY10. · Of the 28 City departments studied, only five managed to remain within budgeted overtime. · Among City departments with large overtime budgets, the top five over-budget departments accounted for $24.4 million in excess overtime spending. · From FY10 to FY15, overtime spending within the Police Department rose by 53 percent. · Seven City departments have been identified for overtime reduction over the life of the current Five-Year Financial Plan.