Overtime and Earnings

Complete article at http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=52931

Five years after the economic bust that left city officials rolling up their sleeves and heaving the budget ax, police and fire department are earning hefty overtime salaries. A Daily Journal review of overtime and staffing shows that nearly every city between Redwood City and San Bruno reduced firefighter and police personnel. At the same time, overtime salaries are allowing more public servants to earn a six-figure salary. Redwood City pays 93 of the city's 552 city employees more than $100,000. San Mateo has 677 employees with only 41 making over $100,000.

In every city, the majority of six-digit salaries belong to police and firefighters. Cities are actually saving money by paying overtime instead of hiring more personnel. New hires require training, health insurance and retirement contributions. Smaller cities are making larger cuts and exploring mergers of some departments to save money.

INFORMATION BOX: Salaries over $100,000
Burlingame 70*
Foster City 25
Millbrae 15
Redwood City 93
San Bruno 61
San Mateo 41
*salaries do not include retirement contributions

INFORMATION BOX: Overtime spending FY 04-05
City -- Fire -- Police
Belmont -- $1.2m -- $176,209
Burlingame -- $452,036 -- $334,857
Foster City -- $141,090 -- $162,033
Millbrae -- $576,090 -- $219,400
Redwood City -- $1.4m -- $2.1m
San Bruno -- $647,899 -- $460,967
San Carlos -- n/a* -- $355,734
San Mateo -- $890,713 -- $1.1m

* San Carlos and Belmont share fire service via South County Fire Authority.

- Written by Fiona

Comments

What is your point?

[Resident]

Interesting data, even if no specific point per-se. It does raise an important question though -- arbitrary $100K number aside, is Burlingame's compensation for city employees low, inline, or high relative to comparable cities in the Bay Area? Falls to Jim N and Jesus (Finance) to answer that one.

[KRN]

This is a smart idea because of the benefit savings. Heath care for an additional employee is a hefty addition to the budget. As long as the empolyees are OK with the overtime (need I even ask). I've pushed this issue at the high schools for a few years. Effective teachers could teach an extra period each day (by mutual consent) for extra compensation. The district could save thousands on the healthcare and additional benefits of new employees.