Brenden Moore
The State Journal-Register
The Springfield City Council voted Tuesday to appropriate more than $600,000 from the city’s fund balance to cover runaway fire department overtime costs.
Springfield Fire Chief Allan Reyne told council members that the overtime, which was accrued during the fiscal year that ended Feb. 28, mostly came as a result of higher-than-usual absences for military service, an uptick in injuries and a significant number of long-term illnesses.
It was approved with a 9-0-1 vote, with Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voting present. Council members encouraged Reyne to try and keep closer tabs on overtime this year.
Reyne, who last week told aldermen that the department had not exceeded its overtime budget since 2002, said it was the department’s intent to rein it in, but that similar factors this year could complicate that effort.
The council also passed an $18,100 appropriation for Public Works for overtime and regular time that exceeded the budgeted amount.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 