San Francisco Leaders Aim To Squelch City Worker Overtime

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – San Francisco Supervisors are trying to tinker with the city's overtime regulations again to keep overtime costs under control.

The high water mark was back in the 2007/2008 fiscal year when the city spent almost $168 million on overtime, mostly for six departments, police, fire, Muni, public health and the sheriff. Since then, OT spending has dropped to $130 million last year, and this legislation is the latest attempt to further chip away at the problem.

It would reduce the amount of overtime anyone can work from 30 percent to 20 percent of their regular work hours.

Supervisor's Budget and Finance Committee Chair Carmen Chu said she supports the plan, but doesn't see it reducing overall spending.

KCBS' Barbara Taylor Reports:

"I do think that this will perhaps spread overtime over a larger number of employees, but it doesn't fundamentally change the conditions under which departments are actually issuing overtime," said Chu.

The legislation would require the controller to provide more information about overtime costs, and it would prevent a small group of city workers from hogging overtime to increase their earnings and future pension benefits.

The proposal goes to the full board for a vote next week.

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