City Employee Made More in Overtime Than Base Salary

Public data shows 26 municipal employees earned more than $50,000 in overtime

Three city employees made nearly as much in overtime in 2012 as their base salary, data recently released by the city reveals.

In fact, one employee's overtime earnings -- of $91,116 -- actually exceeded her annual salary of $77,784. That "police communications officer" earned nearly $169,000 last year.

The data, publicly available on a section of the city's website, shows that through October, 26 municipal employees earned more than $50,000 in overtime.

The three employees who nearly doubled the annual salary include:  

  • A police dispatcher who earned $84,852 in overtime in addition to an annual salary of $77,784,
  • A police detective who earned $76,161 in overtime on top of an annual salary of $87,372, and
  • A police communications operator who earned $75,970 in overtime in addition to an annual salary of $77,784.

If it makes you wonder if it isn't just more cost effective to hire additional employees, that's exactly the point, according to a city spokeswoman. Jennifer Hoyle, who works for the city's Office of Budget and Management, explained to RedEye that sometimes the cost of training and benefits exceeds the cost of just paying someone overtime.

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