Study Finds Overtime Concentrated on a Few

Finding that overtime costs are paid to a relatively small group of Los Angeles city workers, a report released Friday said that officials should conduct a survey to determine how to save money.

The report by Controller Rick Tuttle found that just 15% of the city’s work force, or 7,600 employees, have accounted for more than 80% of all overtime paid since 1990. In that span, city departments have paid $863 million in overtime, according to the report.

Of particular concern, the study noted, was the Fire Department, which has accounted for more than 40% of the overtime paid in the past five years.

The study, which only examined departments controlled by the City Council, was ordered by council members after a series of articles last year in The Times reported that overtime in the Fire Department had soared to record levels. Most of the time-and-a-half pay, the series found, was not for emergencies but for replacing firefighters out on vacations, holidays, injuries, training, illnesses or personal leave.

One firefighter earned more than $100,000 in overtime in a single year, The Times found.

“It’s probably time to visit the way in which that [Fire Department] policy is being implemented, in a way that still maintains public safety but achieves some efficiency,” Tuttle said Friday. “We’re suggesting that [firefighter] overtime amounts continue to remain very large.”

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Fire Chief Bill Bamattre said Friday that the department has already conducted a comprehensive study of its overtime. As of earlier this month, he said, overtime costs were down 20% from the same period a year ago. The department also plans to hire 80 firefighters in January, the chief said, although he added that it is still cheaper to pay overtime than to hire recruits.

“We’ve taken some good steps to better use our overtime,” Bamattre said.

Tuttle’s report cited various factors contributing to the overtime paid citywide.

One was the 1992 riots, another the 1994 Northridge earthquake, both of which required city crews to work long hours cleaning debris and taking care of other duties. But perhaps more important was that the city has largely operated under a hiring freeze since 1991, the report stated.