Hollywood Park council approves change to fire department overtime accrual to align with FLSA

Hollywood Park's City Council voted Dec. 16 to change the fire department's overtime-accrual pay cycle from 14 days to a 24-day cycle to conform to Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidance and reduce fluctuations in overtime pay.

Fire Chief Burnside told the council the department currently budgets 156 hours of overtime but is technically liable for about 240 mandatory hours under FLSA calculations. By moving to a 24-day accrual cycle aligned with the department's 48/96 staffing rotation, Chief Burnside said the town would reduce the department's overtime payout (projected from approximately $104,000 to about $66,000 in the materials shown) and stabilize employee pay cycles. "This allows the department to move to a flat pay schedule of a 112 hours per pay period," he said while reviewing the comparative tables.

Council members asked for clarification about impacts on staffing, vacation coverage and part-time hires; Chief and staff said the change would require updates to the employee handbook and that any program changes must follow legal review and an ordinance amendment. The town attorney will assist with necessary handbook and ordinance revisions.

After discussion, the council voted to approve the change. The mayor said the measure is intended to reduce volatility in overtime expenses while maintaining service levels; staff will return with the updated handbook language and an ordinance to codify the change.

The council recorded the vote in open session; implementation will begin after policy and payroll changes are finalized.