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City audit faults Fire-Rescue overtime forecasting after $71.6 million multiyear overage; department projects midyear shortfall
Summary
A city performance audit found the Fire-Rescue department exceeded overtime budgets by $71.6 million from FY2019–FY2024, with $31.8 million hitting the general fund. Auditors recommended formalized budgeting methods, improved staffing projections and an updated relief-pool calculation; Fire Rescue and Finance agreed to implement the recommendations.
Auditors presented a scathing review of San Diego Fire-Rescue’s overtime budgeting and staffing projections on Feb. 2, finding persistent multiyear overspending that has strained the city’s general fund.
"Fire Rescue spent about $54 million on overtime in fiscal year 2024—about 15% of its total annual budget—and the audit identified $71.6 million in overtime overages from FY2019 through FY2024," said Principal Performance Auditor Megan Jaffrey during the council presentation. The auditors told council members $31.8 million of those overages affected the general fund.
The audit team identified three primary issues: an overtime budgeting methodology that has not been zero-based since FY2019; staffing projections that excluded many sworn positions filled through the fire academy; and an outdated relief-pool…
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