The Toledo Fire and Rescue Department used nearly 96 percent of its overtime budget — $2.27 million in overtime costs — six months into the year, but city finance officials said they’re not too worried about the department’s overall financial health for 2018.
The department budgeted $2.37 million for overtime costs in 2018 and as of June 30 had spent $2.27 million, according to the most recent figures provided to city council.
Pvt. Sterling Rahe, the fire department’s spokesman, said the costs have been driven by recall overtime, which is when a firefighter is called into work on a day that he or she was scheduled off. Recall overtime has been high because of retirements, firefighters on union release to negotiate a new contract, and firefighters working to train the latest fire class. The department must maintain a minimum daily staffing of 110 line firefighters, Private Rahe said.
“We’re very aware of it. We try to work within those parameters,” he said.