NEWBURGH – The cost of police and fire department overtime in the City of Newburgh is “horrendous,” Councilwoman Hillary Rayford says and she wants the departments to tighten it up.
At present, she said higher paid personnel with more seniority are assigned overtime. She would like that changed so that lower paid staffers get overtime.
“We understand that the ones who do have the seniority, yes, they may have different skills, but that is when cross-training comes into effect so it doesn’t affect the taxpayer as it does now,” Rayford said.
Overtime expenses are high in both departments because of the number
of instances to which personnel respond as well as having under authorized
staffing levels.
