FONT SIZE
Email this
Print this
POST A COMMENT
OT in OS
Ocean Shores has been spending about $250,000 per year in overtime. The Police and Fire/EMS overtime is clearly marked as “permanent overtime” in budget listings. It’s tougher to find out what is going on in the various Public Works departments. A recent North Coast News public records request shows the Public Works overtime for the first two quarters of 2010 was around $25,000, on pace to be slightly below last year’s $54,000.
2010 city-wide partial total: $175,177 (first two quarters, Public Works; first three quarters, Police, Fire, EMS)
2009 city-wide total: $291,910
2008 city-wide total: $233,744 (not including Public Works) The breakdowns:
Public Works Overtime
2010 first two quarters $25,310.88
2nd qtr 2010 $19,029.50
1st qtr 2010 $6,281.38
2009 total $54,034.75
4th qtr 2009 $11,706.25
3rd qtr 2009 $29,555.20
2nd qtr 2009 $6,766.57
1st qtr 2009 $6,006.73
Police OT
2011 budget $80,000
2010 $67,805 through first three quarters (budget $88,283)
2009 $83,299
2008 $122,458
Emergency Care/EMS OT
2011 budget $68,000
2010 $53,340 through first three quarters (year budget $75,400)
2009 $100,638
2008 $96,575
Fire OT
2011 budget $40,000
2010 $28,722 through first three quarters (budget $40,600)
2009 $53,939
2008 $14,711
Speaking of overtime, Everybody has missed the many thousands of dollars put out for those in the fire and police departments that are with the surf rescue team. 5 percent extra pay every month throughout the year even if they never touch the water, and a couple hours of overtime everytime a call goes out, even if its a false alarm. I dont know the numbers, but of you look at all of the times the calls go out throughout the year, you are talking some big money that is given to city employees for doing nothing….
Think about it? You ask if we have thought about it? You are REALLY asking if we have thought about it? Gee.
Permanent Overtime means you get to ride the boat after hours and talk to all your friends. Ask the better question: How many tickets have been issues? Answer: None. It is a perk that every officer goes for training to take advantage of. Overtime and a day out boating.
There must be accurate meticulous records, open to the public why money was spent on anything as ridiculous as something called permanent overtime. A bill of $250,000 a year is outrageous.
If our extremely high paid managers can’t manage better than this, the mayor needs to fire them and hire managers who know how to manage. Competent managers are out there. The unemployed jobless rate is pushing 10%.
Four council members need to vote so that this happens.
I’m laughing at the comments:
• How many heart attacks, medical emergencies, etc., occurred to warrant overtime in EMS?
• How many fires occurred to warrant overtime in the Fire Dept.?
• How many street pipes blew, or roads collapsed, or traffic signs fell over, snow removal, etc., to warrant overtime in Public Works?
The only item I can see that is warranted would be the Police; but without documentation on why, it’s questionable. Is anything documented to show proof of why it was necessary, or do we just dole out the cash on a “business as usual” basis?
How long does the administration of OS keep thinking that it’s citizens are STUPID LAMBS TO BE FLEECED?
well, gee, think about it….you are in the middle of fighting a fire, or transporting someone having a heart attack to the hospital and it’s time to clock out….what would you have them do?
Our public employees are Gold. Surprised?
If you budget for it, does it become a goal? What are we doing to eliminate it completely?