Emergency services on both coasts of the U.S. are feeling the financial strain of excesses in overtime wages. According to local CBS affiliate Central Coast News, both the fire and police departments in Salinas, Calif., are far surpassing the delegated annual budget for time and attendance.

Central Coast News provided examples of a police officer who, in addition to regular pay, received $85,000 in overtime wages, as well as a fire engineer who accrued $31,000 as a consequence of overtime. Moreover, the police department's records showed the law enforcement agency paid out $2.4 million in overtime wages for 2012. Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin explained that in 2009, the police department staffed 187 officers, and in 2012, numbers were reduced to 148, yet the overhead costs for overtime remained the same.

The New York Post reported that emergency workers responding to 911 calls basically have mandatory overtime hours. Due to technical problems with their newly implemented computer-aided dispatch system, there have been significant delays in emergency services. The employees are regularly working 16-hour shifts and told The Post their health and welfare is suffering as a result of poor time and attendance management.

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