Monthly Economic Report: City Overtime Costs Down Slightly Over Past Year


Date: July 26, 2011
Categories
  • Finance & Policy
Controller: Alan Butkovitz

Executive Summary


For Immediate Release:
July 26, 2011

Contact: Brian Dries
215-686-8869

City Overtime Costs Down Slightly Over Past Year
Controller’s economic report analyzes yearly drop in overtime costs,
despite increases for eight city departments

Click here to view monthly economic report

PHILADELPHIA – While the City’s $118.9 million in total overtime payments for FY2011 decreased by less than one percent from FY2010, eight city departments combined for more than $6 million in overtime increases from the prior year, according to City Controller Alan Butkovitz’ economic report released today.

The Fire Department, which had the largest yearly payment increase of more than $3 million, spent $21.98 million in overtime for FY2011 compared to $18.44 million in FY2010, a 16 percent increase. Other departments with overtime costs exceeding those from the previous years include the following:

Department Total Increase from FY2010
Human Services $1,545,537
Prisons $1,149,270
Library $273,272
Health Department $188,079
License & Inspections $77,930
Fleet $43,834
City Commissioners $12,071

A few of the departments that contributed to the City’s slight reduction in overtime were the Police and Streets departments, both of which decreased overtime costs by more than $2 million. The Sheriff’s Office also decreased its costs by almost $900,000.

Along with a look at the city’s yearly overtime costs, the Controller’s economic report also highlighted the city’s tax revenue collections. The Wage/Earning/NPT tax collections for the month totaled $118.2 million, putting the fiscal year-end collection at $1.5 billion, an almost four percent increase from last year. Yearly sales tax collections totaled $247.9 million, a 35 percent increase from last year.

The Controller’s economic report is compiled on a monthly basis and includes an Economic Snapshot and Forecast, as well as real estate information and other local statistics. These reports are circulated every month to assist key decision makers in understanding and anticipating local and national economic trends. Both of these documents are a useful tool for policy makers and analysts in understanding our regional and local economy.

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