NB Fire Department Overtime Causing Concern

Overtime in the Fire Department budget is causing some financial worries at City Hall.

The overtime budget deficit is projected to be more than $1 million by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2016. Chief Financial Officer Ari Sky tells WBSM's Taylor Cormier, its not a new problem.

"The overtime the last couple of years has really spiked, and that's why. In Fiscal Year 13 it was $518,000, in FY 15 it was $1.2 million and this year its probably going to be around $1.3 million, somewhere in that neighborhood," said Sky.

Sky says the city expects to cover the deficit by making some small savings, and transferring funds from other departments near the end of the fiscal year.

He says the deficit is caused by the Fire Department providing the same level of service, but with fewer people doing the work.

Fire Chief Michael Gomes told the Standard Times this week, the city in recent years has not realistically funded the overtime account, but Sky says it all comes down to the dollars that are available.