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Columbus Orders 10-Year Overtime Audit Amid $23M Police and Fire Deficit
Read the full articleColumbus City Council unanimously ordered a 10-year audit of police and fire overtime after projected deficits reached $23 million this year. Police and fire unions warned of public safety risks from staffing shortages as council prepares the 2027 budget.
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Columbus faces $23 million deficit in police, fire overtime as staffing shortages persist
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Columbus police and fire overtime spending is projected to exceed budget limits by at least $23 million this year, as public safety staffing shortages persist 10TV, WSYX.
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Columbus faces $23 million deficit in police, fire overtime as staffing shortages persist
Supporting evidence (6)
Columbus police and fire overtime spending is projected to exceed budget limits by at least $23 million this year, as public safety staffing shortages persist 10TV, WSYX.
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Columbus police and fire overtime expenses are projected to be over budget by at least $23 million this year.Monday night, Columbus City Council unanimously passed legislation to ensure councilmembers and the public receive information about police and fire overtime costs before making decisions about the city's 2027 operating budget.
Monday night, Columbus City Council unanimously passed legislation to ensure councilmembers and the public receive information about police and fire overtime costs before making decisions about the city's 2027 operating budget WSYX.
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Columbus police and fire overtime expenses are projected to be over budget by at least $23 million this year.Monday night, Columbus City Council unanimously passed legislation to ensure councilmembers and the public receive information about police and fire overtime costs before making decisions about the city's 2027 operating budget.
"We know that we don't have enough officers, police, and fire, to bring down those numbers right now," Hardin said, adding that "we do know that we have been under budgeting for that for a long time" WSYX.
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"We know that we don't have enough officers, police, and fire, to bring down those numbers right now," said Hardin. "But we do know that we have been under budgeting for that for a long time."
Mayor Ginther echoed Hardin and said overtime has been an issue for years for firefighters and police officers, acknowledging of the 2026 budget: "I think that we had, you know, some very aggressive goals, and you know, we are learning from those" WSYX.
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Mayor Ginther echoed Hardin and said overtime has been an issue for years for firefighters and police officers. When asked about his administration's 2026 budget, he said, "I think that we had, you know, some very aggressive goals. And you know, we are learning from those."
"This year, we're only bringing on one fire class, and that fire class doesn't even start till next month, and so we're not actually doing the things to reduce overtime, but we're also not even budgeting for the overtime that we know that we're gonna have," Hardin said WSYX.
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"This year, we're only bringing on one fire class, and that fire class doesn't even start till next month, and so we're not actually doing the things to reduce overtime, but we're also not even budgeting for the overtime that we know that we're gonna have."
"When we look at the data, we try to work smarter, not harder," Chief Bryant said, explaining that supervisors are held accountable and personnel are deployed where they matter most WSYX.
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"When we look at the data, we try to work smarter, not harder," said Chief Bryant. "We try to make sure that we're putting personnel in the places that it's going to matter. We're trying to make sure that the supervisors and the managers are being accountable. We're doing case reviews."
Columbus police, fire overtime spending exceeds budget by millions
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Columbus City Council members are asking the city auditor to pull 10 years' worth of data on police and fire overtime spending WCMH.
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Now, Columbus City Council members are asking the city auditor to pull 10 years' worth of data on police and fire overtime spending.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/columbus-city-council-considers-review-101610407.html
Supporting evidence (8)
Under the measure, the city auditor will assess overtime expenses in both divisions, including how much was budgeted and how much has actually been spent Yahoo News.
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The proposed legislation would direct the city auditor to assess overtime expenses in both divisions, including how much was budgeted and how much has actually been spent.
Council members said the issue must be addressed to help keep the city's finances stable Yahoo News.
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Council members say the issue must be addressed to help keep the city's finances stable.
The city's finance director reported that Columbus police and fire are each running nearly $8 million over their overtime budgets for the year Yahoo News.
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The city's finance director says Columbus police and fire are each nearly $8 million over their overtime budgets for the year.
Obviously times are tighter," Ginther said Yahoo News.
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"We made historic investments for several years when we had the resources available — three police classes and two fire classes a year. First time in the city's history we did that. We want to get back to that. Obviously times are tighter," Ginther said.
Earlier this year, the presidents of both department unions raised concerns about staffing shortages and the reliance on overtime Yahoo News.
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Earlier this year, the presidents of both department unions raised concerns about staffing shortages and the reliance on overtime.
The Fraternal Order of Police says Columbus is short about 200 officers, while the firefighters union reports a shortage of 120 firefighters Yahoo News.
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The Fraternal Order of Police says Columbus is short about 200 officers, while the firefighters union reports a shortage of 120 firefighters.
Both unions have warned that cutting overtime without addressing staffing shortages could put the public at risk Yahoo News.
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Both unions have warned that cutting overtime without addressing staffing shortages could put the public at risk.
They are driving the demand for these services, and they rightfully expect trained professionals to not only show up, but show up quickly and in a timely manner," said Steve Stein, president of Columbus Firefighters Union Local 67 Yahoo News.
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"We work for the citizens of Columbus. They are driving the demand for these services, and they rightfully expect trained professionals to not only show up, but show up quickly and in a timely manner," said Steve Stein, president of Columbus Firefighters Union Local 67.