WORCESTER – A report by City of Worcester Auditor Robert Stearns shows a projected increase of $1.4 million in overtime wages projected to be paid in fiscal year 2023. The projected to increase will bring the total in overtime wages paid by the city to $33.8 million.
The totals provided include actual costs through March 31, and projected costs for the final three months of the fiscal year. The fiscal year is July 1 through June 30.
The report separates overtime costs by each city department, and funding source within each department. Some overtime costs are funded by special revenue funds, which includes grants and other funding not from the city’s general fund. In all cases of special revenue fund expenditures for overtime, they are a small portion of the overall overtime expenditure.
The following are overtime costs expenditures from the city’s general fund.
The Worcester Police Department overtime costs increased over $1.2 million, from $6 million in FY 2022 to $7.2 million in FY 2023, an increase of 22 percent. Overtime paid for police details decreased, but Stearns notes that reduction of 15 percent, from $12.4 million to $10.6 million in largely due to $1.9 million in detail pay in FY 2022 for St. Vincent Hospital, during the nurses strike.
Detail pay is typically paid by the whoever required the service. Detail pay for municipal projects is paid by the city.
The Emergency Communications department saw overtime costs increase from $328,000 in FY 2022 to $760,000 in FY 2023. $208k was charged to Emergency Communications from the police and fire departments, according to a note by Stearns.
The Worcester Fire Department saw a 15 percent increase in overtime costs, from $4.3 million in FY 2022 to $4.9 million in 2023. Stearns notes that FY 2022 was lower due to $675,000 charge to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Worcester Public Schools overtime pay increased from $1.2 million in FY 2022 to $4.3 million in FY 2023. Transportation accounts for $1 million of those overtime cost increases. An additional $1.9 million of the increase is for custodians within the schools. In FY 2022, a $1.8 million of custodian overtime was covered by a grant.
The Department of Public Works & Parks had overtime paid for through its general fund increase just 2 percent, an increase of around $40,000 in FY 2023. The Water Department saw is overtime increase 15 percent, from $892,000 to $1 million. The Sewer Department saw a 3 percent increase, an increase of about $11,000 to $417,000.
The Inspectional Services department saw the highest percentage increase in overtime pay, from $10,000 in FY 2022 to $66,000 in FY 2023, a 543 percent increase.
The Worcester Public Library was the only department to see a reduction in overtime costs, from $123,000 in FY 2022 to $95,151 in FY 2023, a 23 percent reduction.
The Elections Department overtime costs increase from $12,000 in FY 2022 to $33,000 in FY 2023, a 67 percent increase. Stearns notes the state general election in November 2022 impacted that increase.
The Public Facilities Department saw an increase in overtime pay from $34,000 in FY 2022 to $57,250 in FY 2023, a 67 percent increase.
The Transportation and Mobility Department reported $30,000 in overtime wages paid in its first year in operation.
All other departments reported minimal changes in overtime wages paid, ranging from a high of $25,000 in total overtime wages paid a low of $2,600.
Rec Woo and the Economic Development Department both reported no overtime wages paid in FY 2023.
