Nonpartisan fiscal analysts released a report earlier this week that shows the state was able to lower its overtime payments by 14.5 percent over the past year.
The Office of Fiscal Analysis report found that the state paid $219 million in overtime wages to its employees. That’s down $37.1 million from 2015 when it paid $256.2 million in overtime. Lawmakers passed legislation in December 2015 requiring analysts to report on overtime usage on a quarterly basis.
Five agencies account for 90 percent of the overtime. Those agencies include the Correction Department, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which includes the state police.
There were also five percent fewer employees earning overtime in 2016 than there were in 2015.
Office of Policy and Management Secretary Ben Barnes said the report was “extremely encouraging.”
“This data confirms that state agencies are working effectively to change practices and live within our means in this new economic reality,” Barnes said. “State workers, managers, and agency leaders should all be congratulated for this deep and meaningful reduction.”
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy also applauded the savings.
“This updated report demonstrates our state employees, managers, and commissioners are doing a tremendous job of delivering top-notch services efficiently,” Malloy said. “These steps are critical to right-sizing government, but there is still much work to be done. The world is changing and we are working to change state government with it.”
