Politics
NYPD can expect a flood of retirements after overtime cuts
proposal to slash overtime for migrants
USPA NEWS -
he NYPD can expect a brain drain thanks to a flood of retirements if overtime is cut as proposed by Mayor Adams to help plug a multibillion-dollar, migrant-fueled budget hole, police sources say.
“A lot of people that are eligible to retire are going to leave if the overtime stops because overtime is pensionable,” an NYPD sergeant said Monday.
New York’s Finest “haven’t heard anything officially” about a potential reduction in overtime, but the source told The Post that such a move wouldn’t make financial sense.
“We’re already at critical staffing levels, and it’s cheaper to pay overtime than it is to hire another officer,” the source said, explaining that health care and other benefits had already been paid for when an existing officer picks up a shift.
In addition to possible police, fire, sanitation and correction OT cuts, all branches of government in the Big Apple have been told to slash spending by 5% — and potentially up to 15% by spring — to mitigate the “skyrocketing costs” of New York City’s migrant crisis without more federal aid. But the NYPD source that while there would be pain over such a move, there’s an upside, too, for some officers who are being overworked.
“A lot of people that are eligible to retire are going to leave if the overtime stops because overtime is pensionable,” an NYPD sergeant said Monday.
New York’s Finest “haven’t heard anything officially” about a potential reduction in overtime, but the source told The Post that such a move wouldn’t make financial sense.
“We’re already at critical staffing levels, and it’s cheaper to pay overtime than it is to hire another officer,” the source said, explaining that health care and other benefits had already been paid for when an existing officer picks up a shift.
In addition to possible police, fire, sanitation and correction OT cuts, all branches of government in the Big Apple have been told to slash spending by 5% — and potentially up to 15% by spring — to mitigate the “skyrocketing costs” of New York City’s migrant crisis without more federal aid. But the NYPD source that while there would be pain over such a move, there’s an upside, too, for some officers who are being overworked.
“Morale will improve among some cops if overtime is cut because a lot of them are being forced to do unwanted overtime,” the sergeant said.
But sources at several city agencies also complained that guidance was scant from City Hall as to what they should be doing to cut costs.
At City Hall, a top Adams aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, huddled with budget officials Monday. The administration declined comment on what was discussed.
Andrew Rein, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a non-profit think tank, said a list of programs that were added to the city budget just two months ago should be considered for the chopping block.
“The fiscal cliff programs — ongoing programs funded by federal COVID and non recurring City revenues — should be scrutinized to see how essential they are, since they are already unfunded in the future. But the City may determine they are higher impact than other programs, and ones chosen to protect,” he said in an analysis.
In addition to the proposed cuts, the city plans to “impose a hiring freeze, limit contractual spending, reduce uniform agency overtime spending, and freeze city funded new agency spending,” the budget chief said.
But sources at several city agencies also complained that guidance was scant from City Hall as to what they should be doing to cut costs.
At City Hall, a top Adams aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, huddled with budget officials Monday. The administration declined comment on what was discussed.
Andrew Rein, the president of the Citizens Budget Commission, a non-profit think tank, said a list of programs that were added to the city budget just two months ago should be considered for the chopping block.
“The fiscal cliff programs — ongoing programs funded by federal COVID and non recurring City revenues — should be scrutinized to see how essential they are, since they are already unfunded in the future. But the City may determine they are higher impact than other programs, and ones chosen to protect,” he said in an analysis.
In addition to the proposed cuts, the city plans to “impose a hiring freeze, limit contractual spending, reduce uniform agency overtime spending, and freeze city funded new agency spending,” the budget chief said.
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