Finance committee presses public safety on overtime, union MOA and revenue from school bus cameras

Providence — The Providence City Finance Committee on April 30 reviewed the Public Safety and Telecommunications departmental budgets, focusing committee attention on rising overtime and callback costs, an in-year memorandum of agreement with Local 1033 that lifted call-center wages, and new camera-generated revenues shared with the city.

The hearing covered two linked budgets: Telecommunications, which the administration budgets to generate $750,000 in revenue in fiscal 2026, and the Police Department, whose proposed operating budget totals about $118.7 million for FY2026. Committee members pressed department leaders about the $159,641 line in Telecommunications tied to a Local 1033 MOA that raises control‑center pay, an internal reclassification that converts a telephone technician position into a radio‑repair technician, and vacancies that drive costly callback and overtime payments.

Why it matters: Public safety is the largest component of the operating budget and decisions about staffing, collective bargaining and technology affect response…