Administration asks council to authorize transfer to cover projected police overtime

City administration asked the New Haven City Council at the meeting to authorize a transfer of funds to cover police overtime that is projected to exceed budgeted amounts.

The request came to the finance committee on April 9, which recommended approval after hearing from the police chief. Committee members were told that ongoing staffing shortages among uniformed ranks are the primary reason for increased overtime and that recruitment efforts are under way but will take time to fill vacancies. The administration urged council members to approve a transfer so the department can continue providing services while recruitment continues.

"The administration requests authorization to transfer funds to support police overtime expenditures, which are projected to surpass budgeted months," an administration representative told the council. The finance committee heard the title on April 9. According to the chief, recruitment is producing some momentum but "filling the open officer positions will take more time and effort," so the department will rely on overtime in the near term.

The finance committee voted to recommend approval; council discussion proceeded and a voice vote or roll call recorded multiple affirmative responses in the transcript. A specific final tally was not provided in the excerpt of the meeting record available here.

If approved, the transfer would allow the police department to pay officers for extra shifts to maintain scheduled services. The amount of the requested transfer and the source fund line items were not specified in the available transcript excerpts.