Audit Highlights Wasteful Overtime at Public Safety Agencies

The D.C. government spent nearly $220 million on overtime last fiscal year. This expense covered 911 dispatchers, corrections officers, police, firefighters, and EMTs. Traditionally, hiring more employees within public safety agencies seemed like the straightforward solution to reduce reliance on overtime. However, a recent audit uncovers a different significant contributor to these overtime costs.

The audit reveals a surprising number of city workers frequently fail to show up for their shifts. This absenteeism forces shifts to be covered by existing staff, resulting in increased overtime hours and costs.

Addressing absenteeism could significantly impact overtime expenditures. Encouraging a reliable workforce and ensuring proper scheduling could mitigate the financial burden of overtime in these agencies.