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Committee continues debate on lowering citywide overtime cap from 30% to 20% and seeks additional reporting
Summary
Supervisors debated an ordinance to reduce the maximum allowable overtime for non-safety/non-MTA city employees from 30% to 20% of regularly scheduled hours and to require monthly written reports; staff warned the change would increase waiver requests and administrative burden and the committee voted to continue the item for a week to allow the Controller to provide streamlined reporting recommendations.
The Budget and Finance Committee considered a proposed ordinance that would lower the maximum allowable overtime for non-public-safety, non-MTA employees from 30% to 20% of regular scheduled hours and require monthly written reporting when departments face critical staffing shortages.
Supervisor Carmen Chu, sponsor of the legislation, said the change aims to reduce excessive overtime and address safety and work-quality concerns stemming from some employees logging large amounts of overtime. Mickey Callahan of the Department of Human Resources reviewed the ordinance's history, noting a 2008 change raised the cap from an un-enforced 16% to 30% combined with reporting requirements; Callahan said the reporting and exemption process contributed to reductions in overtime in non-safety departments but warned that moving to 20% will likely increase exemption requests and administrative burden.
MTA and Controller representatives explained the MTA accounts for about half of city overtime spending and that certain classes (operators, station agents) are service-critical; both MTA and DHR representatives said exemptions/waivers will still be necessary for essential staffing. Budget and controller staff offered to produce consolidated reporting and classification-level data to inform implementation. Supervisor Chu moved to continue the item for one week to allow the Controller’s office to prepare streamlined reporting recommendations. The committee approved the continuance.
