OT Payout Draws Swift Reaction from City of Jacksonville

In the 2009 budget year, the city of Jacksonville paid $31 million in overtime - an increase from the previous year- and city officials are saying that's a problem.

"We would like to cut down on the overtime and we have made a concerted effort to do so," said city councilman Stephen Joost.

Joost chairs the city council's finance committee. "The big area seems to be in corrections," he said.

The councilman, reacting to a First Coast News report Monday on Jacksonville's overtime said the problem needs to be reviewed.

"Last year was a tough year; in some cases we may have cut too many jobs. We replaced 80 positions last year and this year added positions for 44 new corrections officers," said Joost.

The city's Corrections Department and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department spent the most in overtime. Other city council members said the problem is spiraling out of control.

"I think it is something we will have to keep our eye on the ball continuously. I know as a small-business owner I cannot afford overtime," said Councilman John Crescimbeni.

Councilman Reginald Brown shared his concern. "I definitely believe we will have to deal with it because it is costing us more money in the long run. We need to tackle the problem right now."

The city has earmarked $22 million for overtime spending in the 2010 budget year, said Poppell.