Community Corner
Overtime Costs South Shore Fire Department Big Bucks
For the second year in a row, the South Shore Fire Department is seeing a big spike in overtime costs.
We're just halfway through 2013, and the South Shore Fire Department has already accumulated more than a year's worth of overtime days, according to SSFD Chief Robert Stedman.
With mounting injuries and firefighters on leave for various reasons, there have already been 382 overtime days used this year, Stedman said. This has been a recurring problem for the department, which came in about $300,000 over budget in overtime costs in 2012.
"This is a huge hole in the budget," Mount Pleasant Administrator Kurt Wahlen said during Thursday's Fire/EMS Oversight Board meeting. He noted that there is only $70,000 budgeted for overtime expenses that may run between $200,000 and $300,000 this year.
According to Stedman, each day a firefighter is not working costs roughly $1,000. And while some of that amount is covered by other sources, such as worker's compensation, there is a considerable burden on overtime.
There are seven employees in the SSFD who are not currently working, either for medical or family reasons. Stedman said three of those absences are long-term, two are family-related and two are short-term.
"They just keep coming and coming and coming," Stedman said, referring to the absences.
Stedman said the department, which serves Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant, is now in the hiring process for two vacancies.
"We're headed in the right direction, as long as we keep plugging away at it," said Rick McClusky, chairman of the oversight board.
For a comprehensive look at SSFD's budget woes, check out this recent piece by Editor Heather Asiyanbi.
There are seven employees in the SSFD who are not currently working, either for medical or family reasons. Stedman said three of those absences are long-term, two are family-related and two are short-term.
"They just keep coming and coming and coming," Stedman said, referring to the absences.
Stedman said the department, which serves Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant, is now in the hiring process for two vacancies.
"We're headed in the right direction, as long as we keep plugging away at it," said Rick McClusky, chairman of the oversight board.
For a comprehensive look at SSFD's budget woes, check out this recent piece by Editor Heather Asiyanbi.
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