Improper payments compromise Chicago's furlough program
A recent report by Chicago's inspector general found that the city's fire department's furlough program savings had been significantly reduced because of overtime and holiday pay being improperly awarded.
The Chicago Tribune reports that although unpaid days off in 2009 and 2010 saved the city more than $800,000 in payroll expenses, the savings were wiped out by holiday and overtime pay given to exempt employees. This ended up costing the city a further $335,000.
According to the IG's website, employees such as deputy district chiefs, internal affairs investigators and administrative workers are not included in the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 agreement. This makes the payment of such benefits "an unnecessary and significant drain on limited public resources."
Exempt employees were also given more than $200,000 in availability pay and clothing and gear allowances last year, the Tribune reports. The payments are part of regular firefighters' contracts, but are not guaranteed to non-union supervisors.
An emergency services department in Los Angeles is having overtime troubles of its own. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently signed a $6.9 billion city service-cutting budget that eliminates overtime for members of the city's police department in a bid to avoid layoffs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The Chicago Tribune reports that although unpaid days off in 2009 and 2010 saved the city more than $800,000 in payroll expenses, the savings were wiped out by holiday and overtime pay given to exempt employees. This ended up costing the city a further $335,000.
According to the IG's website, employees such as deputy district chiefs, internal affairs investigators and administrative workers are not included in the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 agreement. This makes the payment of such benefits "an unnecessary and significant drain on limited public resources."
Exempt employees were also given more than $200,000 in availability pay and clothing and gear allowances last year, the Tribune reports. The payments are part of regular firefighters' contracts, but are not guaranteed to non-union supervisors.
An emergency services department in Los Angeles is having overtime troubles of its own. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa recently signed a $6.9 billion city service-cutting budget that eliminates overtime for members of the city's police department in a bid to avoid layoffs, the Los Angeles Times reports.
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