Police overtime bruising budget

BILL CUMMINGS
ConnPost Article Last Updated: 08/10/2008 01:08:39 AM EDT

BRIDGEPORT — Police officers racked up nearly $9 million in overtime last year, contributing to the city's fiscal year-end budget deficit of a whopping $19 million.

Figures released by the city show police logged $8.8 million on inside overtime during the 2007-08 fiscal year, which ended June 30. That's $1.3 million more than budgeted.

In fact, Bridgeport leads the state's other big cities in the amount spent on police overtime, although all of the police departments spent more than budgeted. During the just-completed '08 fiscal year, New Haven spent $5.6 million on police overtime, while Stamford spent $5.4 million; Hartford, $4.8 million; and Norwalk, $2.5 million.

Hartford has the largest police force in the state, with 491 sworn officers, compared to 442 in Bridgeport; 405 in New Haven; 305 in Stamford, and 182 in Norwalk.

Mayor Bill Finch said municipal overtime must be curtailed, but reserved particular criticism for city cops, who he said are abusing overtime. "It's a huge portion of the shortfall we are facing," Finch said. "It appears a lot of overtime was paid to high-ranking officers of the department. I can't see a strong justification for that."

The mayor said cracking down is a top priority, and warned "drastic" measures may be coming if overtime is not reduced.

"If overtime cannot be significantly reduced in a short period of time, we will be forced to take drastic measures, up to and including staffing changes in the Police Department,"

Finch said. The city's Fire Department also spent about $1.3 million more on inside overtime, exceeding the budgeted amount of $3.4 million. But city officials so far are focused on police overtime, partly because the number is much larger.

For both the police and fire departments, "inside" overtime to cover staff shortages or special assignments is paid by taxpayers. Police officers can sign up for "outside" overtime, working to protect construction sites, for example, but that expense is reimbursed to the city and does not cost taxpayers money.

To illustrate what the $1.3 million in additional police overtime represents to the cash-starved city, Finch's proposed 2008-09 budget cut $1.1 million from the city's libraries, which would have eliminated 25 workers or closed branches. Those cuts were rescinded under a compromise reached with the City Council.

Over the last month, Finch has been warning that a new fiscal crisis is looming, saying city finances are much worse than he anticipated when he ran for mayor last year.

The mayor has asked employees to work one week for free, and demanded 10 to 20 percent spending reductions in each city department. The city's $492 million school and city budget, approved only a few months ago by the City Council, calls for privatizing the school-based health clinics.

Police union officials say there is not much that can be done about overtime considering the department is 75 officers short of authorized strength.

"Police work is 24 hours a day. There has to be coverage on all shifts," said Frank Cuccaro, president of Local 1159, with represents patrol officers.

The Police Department in 2007-08 had a $43 million budget, with $29 million allocated for salaries. This year's budget allocates $43 million to the department, with $28 million earmarked for salaries. Police overtime, however, is just one aspect of the city's financial woes during the 2007-08 fiscal year, which ended $19 million in the red.

While the ballooning police and fire overtime factored into that deficit, other causes — on one-shot revenue sources that didn't materialize, reduced tax revenues because of a weak economy, rising fuel and health-care costs and less state money — also contributed to the shortfall.

Cost-cutting measures, such as a spending and hiring freeze implemented shortly after Finch took office last December, saved a few million dollars, but the bulk of last year's deficit is being covered by raiding the city's fund balance, or savings account.

The fund, which once stood at $29 million, is now estimated to be as low as $10 million, according to Adam Wood, Finch's chief of staff.

Wood acknowledged the small fund balance poses a financial threat to the city, but said Finch's cost-cutting initiatives will help rebuild the account this year. Credit-rating agencies consider the fund balance when they set bond ratings, which affects the cost of borrowing money.

A new fund balance policy now before the City Council would help reassure credit-rating agencies, Wood explained. The policy requires a percentage of certain revenue be placed into the fund balance.

"This is not a huge surprise. A financial panel that we put together to look at the budget predicted a deficit between $16 million and $20 million. Our freeze in spending and other efforts prevented a $21 million deficit," Wood said.

Meanwhile, the city has begun negotiating new contracts with eight municipal worker unions, including police, who are being asked to forgo raises for two years. The police union has balked at that demand, and negotiations are stalled.

Police officers say they plan to picket Finch, and may issue a vote of no-confidence in the mayor and Chief Bryan Norwood.

Norwood did not return calls seeking comment.

Cuccaro, the police union president, doubts much can be done to reduce overtime considering the department remains understaffed. He said that while 18 new officers are scheduled to join the police force this year, another 36 are eligible for retirement.

"If only half of those leave we are still in the same place," Cuccaro said.

The union president also scoffed at Finch's recent call for city employees to give up a week's vacation or work one week for free, saying, "We do not intend to do that.

"Is it realistic to think you can reign in overtime?" Cuccaro asked. "Only if you want less the safety for the public."

City officials said they want changes in the future police contract so unions no longer pick who's assigned overtime. The Finch administration believes that policy is contributing to a high number of veteran officers receiving overtime, which drives up costs because their salaries are higher.

Cuccaro said overtime is assigned by a supervisor in alphabetical order. Asked if he believes officers are abusing overtime, Cuccaro said they are not.

"I can only answer for patrol. But our officers make $55,000 a year. When you see one making $100,000, they are working a lot," he said.

Finch said he plans to meet with Chief Norwood to make sure he understands how important it is to reduce overtime.

"I'd like to spend a significant amount less, and see it more evenly distributed," the mayor said.

City Council President Thomas McCarthy agreed police overtime must be reduced. "We don't have the luxury of spending money like we do now. You must live within the budget."

He said the city's Finance Department has been asked to brief the council on the city's financial condition and explain what steps are being taken to rein in red ink. He said he's particularly interested in why police overtime is so high.

McCarthy said one problem is police must provide protection during shows at the Arena and Ballpark at Harbor Yard. None of those hours are reimbursed under the lease between the city, which owns the facilities, and the arena and stadium operators.

The $8.8 million spent on police overtime last year includes the cost of protecting patrons at the arena and ballfield.

The city's budget crisis began over a year ago when then-Mayor John Fabrizi and the City Council ratified a budget that projected millions of dollars in one-shot revenues. Much of that money never materialized, creating an $11 million gap in the budget.

The deficit was compounded by other factors, including the $2.6 million in unanticipated police and fire department overtime. Other factors were beyond the city's control. For example, conveyance taxes, budgeted at $5.2 million for the 2008 fiscal year, came in at $2.6 million less, reflecting the severe downturn in the real estate market and the wave of property foreclosures.

State grants turned to be $2.1 million less than expected.

POLICE OVERTIME