The city of Joliet is taking a closer look at overtime costs, especially in the fire and police departments.
The fire department has spent more than $1 million on overtime, which is
60 percent of its overtime budget for the year, according to a report presented to the Joliet City Council Finance Committee this week.
The police department has spent only 26 percent of its overtime budget, although the total of $652,000 makes it the second-highest among city departments.
Administration is preparing an analysis of police and fire overtime for the Finance Committee, City Manager David Hales told the committee. The issue of fire department overtime came up in February, when Fire Chief Joseph Formhals sought council approval for the acquisition of a quint truck, which would have required lower staffing.
Formhals said he was trying to address overtime amid staffing shortages. Firefighters objected. Mayor Bob O’Dekirk called the $300,000 spent in December on fire department overtime “obscene.”