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Natchez aldermen reject proposal to freeze overtime pay after heated safety debate
Summary
A motion to freeze cash overtime pay and offer compensatory time except for emergencies failed after extended debate between aldermen and city public safety chiefs over federal law, staffing and public safety risks.
Alderman Hall moved on July 28 to freeze overtime cash pay across departments through the end of the fiscal year and to allow compensatory time instead except for declared emergencies. The motion touched off an extended and at times heated debate over safety, budget control and federal overtime obligations.
Mayor (speaker 1) warned of legal and operational risks, saying that “Federal law requires that police officers be paid for their duties” and that limiting overtime pay could expose the city to legal claims and impede emergency response. Police and fire leadership argued that limiting cash overtime would constrain chiefs’ ability to staff trucks and covers for critical incidents. Chief Lee Best said he would “request that you do leave it at my discretion for the rest of the budget year” because he could not guarantee coverage if cash overtime were barred.
Aldermen split along budget and oversight lines. Alderman Smith said restricting pay “is not trusting our police chief and fire chief to make logical smart decisions to put the priority of safety first.” Alderman Hall said the intent was to contain end‑of‑year budget overages. A roll‑call vote resulted in the motion failing; the nays outnumbered the yays and the board did not adopt the freeze.
