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Philadelphia Overtime Costs Still High Despite Brownouts
CATHERINE LUCEY
The Philadelphia Daily News
A new report from the city controller shows that while the city has reduced overtime spending overall, that cost is way up in the Fire Department.
This is after Mayor Nutter instituted a policy last summer of rolling brownouts at selected fire stations in an effort to save $3.8 million in fire overtime.
The report from City Controller Alan Butkovitz states that the city spent $10.5 million on Fire Department overtime from July through December 2010. That's up from $8.9 million during the same period in 2009.
"If the second half of the fiscal year mirrors the first half's costs, overtime payments could reach $3.2 million above last year's mark," a news release from the controller stated.
The report also shows that in this time period, overtime spending is down for the Police Department by $4.5 million and the Streets Department has reduced overtime by $1.2 million.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison said that overtime is up because the Fire Department's staffing is low. He said the brownout policy is helping to keep costs down.
"The brownouts have kept us from having really to go out of control," he said. "If we had not done the brownouts, we would be up another $3.8 million."
Under the brownout system, the department uses firefighters from three stations that close on a rotational basis every week to fill in for other firefighters who are out sick or on vacation, a move that saves on overtime.
Gillison said the city hopes to start a new class of paramedics soon, which should ease some of the overtime burden. But he said the city was waiting to hire any firefighters until it gets the results of an independent study on the department that is being commissioned by the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority.
Copyright 2011 Philadelphia Newspapers, LLC
All Rights Reserved
February 1, 2011
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
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Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Everett Gillison said that overtime is up because the Fire Department's staffing is low. He said the brownout policy is helping to keep costs down.
"The brownouts have kept us from having really to go out of control," he said. "If we had not done the brownouts, we would be up another $3.8 million."
Under the brownout system, the department uses firefighters from three stations that close on a rotational basis every week to fill in for other firefighters who are out sick or on vacation, a move that saves on overtime.
Gillison said the city hopes to start a new class of paramedics soon, which should ease some of the overtime burden.
So clearly, while reducing staff reduces overall costs, it concomitantly increases overtime costs but is still cheaper than hiring NEW firefighters.
It would seem that cities (read; clueless politicians) want it both ways; reduce staff and overtime but maintain the same level of service. Are these feckin' idiots high
Query - who wrote the headline, FFN or The Philadelphia Daily News? Someone is shooting for sensationalism.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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First off I am not from Philly....
I would love to hear from WP on this one. But brownouts of only 3 fire stations will only curb the backfilling of OT at those stations. In cities that have alot of fire stations, there still is going to be alot of OT throughout the other city stations when firefighters take time off. You would have to have flexible brownout program... that would match the number of individuals that were off on a given day and that at times would be nearly 50 percent of the houses to eliminate the cost of any OT. So the politician reporting that other departments have saved money, you simply can't compare the FD to any other city department.
Your right Jack, they will all see the effects of service reduction when the next fatal fire occurs in a browned out district. just pray it is not a brother, because that minimal reduction of FD OT will be chump change for the cost of the LODD, and pending lawsuits.
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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they will all see the effects of service reduction when the next fatal fire occurs in a browned out district. just pray it is not a brother, because that minimal reduction of FD OT will be chump change for the cost of the LODD, and pending lawsuits.
Problem is that for most folks with this mindset, even a civilian fatality or LODD will not phase them. The only time they may actually listen is with a lawsuit, but then by the time the thing runs its course it will be someone else's problem and they can shrug blame off.
Yep, rarely, if ever, is it mentioned that OT costs is still cheaper than hiring new. OT is still supposed to be a band aid to staffing gaps, too many places are see ing more OT for a simple reason, they don't want to hire.
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