City Overtime Costs Rise $18 Million in 4 Years, Study Says
The city’s overtime expenses have steadily increased by 15%--or $18 million--over the last four years, according to an audit released Friday by City Controller Rick Tuttle.
Tuttle and his staff found that 23,784 city employees received some cash overtime in 1996, compared with 25,088 employees in 1999, for an average payment of $5,404.
“Unfortunately, our review found some situations that look like management was asleep at the switch when it came to controlling overtime,” Tuttle wrote. “Another category which needs management attention is fraudulent overtime claims, which management can only detect by effective internal controls and vigilant supervision.”
Tuttle said he was surprised to find that overtime for Los Angeles Police Department sworn officers dropped from $37 million four years ago to $23 million in 1999. At the same time, however, sworn Fire Department staff overtime increased from $43 million to $63 million.
The audit also found that overtime in the Department of Airports doubled from about $6 million four years ago to $12 million last year.
Tuttle is asking that all department heads report back within a week to explain their overtime expenditures.
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