The Chicago Fire Department will exceed its overtime budget this year by more than $20 million. In an interview with WBEZ, fire department spokesman Larry Landford said by the end of 2013, total overtime payouts will reach approximately $43 million.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has suggested increased overtime budgeting in 2014. The fire department's total proposed budget is $575 million for 2014, with Emanuel establishing $35.4 million for overtime spending - a 77 percent increase from this year's budget.

The increase in overtime pay continues a three-year trend in a rapidly growing budget for hours worked in excess of 40.

The bloated budget has prompted the head of the fire union to ask City Hall to hire more firefighters. Union president Tom Ryan stated that part of the issue is that hundreds of firefighters have retired without being replaced. Over the past few years, the number of sworn personnel has decreased from about 5,000 to 4,440 budgeted positions for 2014.

Additionally, as the workforce has decreased, minimum staffing agreements still require at least five firefighters on a truck at one time.

Overtime compensation is unavoidable for professionals that deal with unpredictable disasters. To prevent going over allocated overtime budgets, workplaces can track employee time with web attendance software.

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