Some Barberton residents and city leaders are concerned city overtime will likely balloon to $1 million in 2019, half of the overtime going to the fire department.
Barberton homeowner Robert Agustynovich said he was so upset about runaway city overtime and wrote a letter to the city fire chief.
Agustynovich said the current fire union contract, requiring nine firefighters on the job at all times, is partly to blame for increasing overtime costs.
“The future of Barberton, if things don’t change, is bankruptcy and this city is no longer the magic city,” Agustynovich said.
“It’s totally appalling and I hope they can get this contract right, when they’re negotiating it here." Barberton Ward 1 Councilwoman Shannon Wokojance told News 5 the overtime problem was created because staffing levels, especially in the safety forces, haven't been maintained.