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Committee hears that police and fire overtime is driving fiscal pressure; administration credits hiring lag
Summary
Committee members pressed for overtime and FTE data after staff said police and fire overtime is high due to recent retirements and training/hiring timelines; administration committed to providing FTE trend charts and a staffing presentation in October.
Council members asked for overtime comparisons to budget and the administration said police and fire are the primary drivers of overtime, with additional spikes during unexpected retirements and training periods. Mayor's office said hiring new sworn firefighters and officers requires academy time, during which the city pays payroll while recruits are not yet providing full service, contributing to short-term overtime costs.
Staff and council agreed to add a historical FTE chart to the committee packet and to invite human-resources/planning staff to present staffing projections in October. "So that's one of the reasons that we requested that COPS grant," the presenter said in reference to federal grant support to reduce overtime pressure and support new hires.
