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Committee hears overtime report and early budget forecasts as midyear cuts loom
Summary
Controller's monthly overtime report showed the municipal agencies using the most overtime and supervisors and department chiefs discussed causes, hiring plans and monitoring; the mayor's and controller's offices previewed midyear revenue shortfalls and said cut proposals and budget instructions will be released next week.
The Budget & Finance Committee received two linked briefings: the Controller's monthly overtime report and a preliminary review of midyear revenue forecasts that will shape proposed reductions for the current and next fiscal year.
Monique Zmuda of the Controller's Office presented October overtime data showing the highest overtime usage that month came from the Municipal Transportation Agency, Police, Fire, Department of Public Health and the Sheriff. The Controller noted year-to-date overtime had declined for some departments but that overtime remained a significant budget item that departments and DHR must monitor at an employee level to avoid statutory caps. Departments reported operational drivers for overtime: mutual-aid deployments for Fire; seasonal and event-driven policing needs; operator shortfalls at MTA; and staffing and academy-training timing at the Sheriff's Office.
Department representatives described retention and hiring efforts. The Sheriff said new academy graduates were reducing overtime pressure in custody; MTA reported an "extra board" shortage of operators and is rolling out a new scheduling system to better control runs and overtime; DPH reported downward overtime trends tied to service changes but warned of pending midyear cuts that could alter staffing needs.
Comptroller and Mayor's Office staff then presented preliminary revenue analysis showing a deteriorating outlook in key discretionary revenues (property transfer taxes, sales taxes, hotel taxes and payroll-related sectors, particularly financial services). The Controller and Mayor's budget office said they expect to issue budget instructions and a revised projection for FY2009–10 early next week and that departments had been asked to submit midyear cut proposals.
