Pittsburgh Controller Warns City Could End Year $15M Over Budget For Overtime | TribLIVE.Com

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The City of Pittsburgh has already spent about 39% of its budget for holiday and overtime pay, reigniting concerns that its spending plan this year may not be feasible.

Controller Rachael Heisler projects Pittsburgh will likely end up about $15 million over budget in premium pay if expenses continue at the current pace.

That means officials would have to move money around to cover the overtime or draw an additional $15 million from the city⁘s reserves.

When asked if the administration would make any operational changes to curb overtime for the rest of the year, Gainey said officials would ⁘talk about some things internally.⁘

City Council Finance Chair Erika Strassburger, in a letter to council colleagues and Pittsburgh⁘s task force on city finances, predicted the city could outspend its overtime budget by between $5 million and $19 million.

Even the lower number would wipe out the $3.2 million surplus officials expect to have at the end of the year, she said.