State Overtime Spending on $300M Pace

State agencies spent $80.9 million on overtime in the second quarter of fiscal 2024, $10.4 million (14.8%) more than in the first quarter.

Overtime costs are on pace to hit $302.8 million this year, which would be the second highest on record after last year’s all-time high of $305.4 million.

Agencies spent $151.4 million through the first half of the year based on a new report from the legislature’s Office of Fiscal Analysis, $8.1 million less (-5.1%) than the same period in 2023.

Overtime spending has significant implications for taxpayers and Connecticut’s fiscal health as it is among the factors used for calculating state employee pensions.

While spending hit a 10-year low in 2017 following passage of legislation requiring quarterly disclosures of agency overtime, costs increased every year since, spiking last year.

Agency Trends

Compared with the same period last year, spending in the first six months of fiscal 2024 declined at four of the five agencies responsible for 93% of state overtime costs.

The Department of Correction accounted for 35% of all overtime costs, spending $53.25 million, down $56 million (-6.3%) over the same period last year.

DOC overtime costs jumped 12.9% in fiscal 2023 to $106.5 million, despite a declining prison population and the recent closure of three facilities.

The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services spent $30.83 million through Dec. 31, down 3.5% from the same period last fiscal year.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection saw a 1.1% decrease and the Department of Developmental Services posted a 7.1% decline.

Overtime costs rose 25.8% in the first six months to $12.13 million at the Department of Children and Families.

Overtime Spending: Top Five Agencies

Department	FY 2024 Overtime*	FY 2023 Overtime**	$ Difference	% Difference
Correction	$53.25 million	$56.81 million	($3.56 million)	-6.3%
Mental Health & Addiction Services	$30.83 million	$31.96 million	($1.12 million)	-3.5%
Emergency Services & Public Protection	$23.96 million	$24.24 million	($274,007)	-1.1%
Developmental Services	$20.95 million	$22.55 million	($1.6 million)	-7.1%
Children & Families	$12.13 million	$9.64 million	$2.49 million	25.8%

*July 1, 2023-Dec. 31, 2023. **July 1, 2022-Dec. 31, 2022. Source: Office of Fiscal Analysis.

Other Agencies

Overtime spending at all other state agencies declined $4.03 million to $10.24 million (-28.2%) through the first half of fiscal 2024.

The UConn Health Center accounted for 58% of that decline, with its costs falling $2.35 million to just $19 (-100%).

Spending fell $1.3 million to $4.45 million (-22.6%) at the Department of Social Services and declined $172,230 to $907,035 (-16%) at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Connecticut's commitment to fiscal discipline means "we're operating from a position of strength, rather than jumping from crisis to crisis," as @TreasRussell told @SenatorMcKinney and @CBIANews' Chris Davis at last week's economic summit. #transformCT https://t.co/wqCgUGKYBb

— Chris DiPentima (@ChrisDipentima) January 25, 2024

The Office of Legislative Management spent $333,700, up 35.6% over last year, with costs rising 333.2% in the Attorney General’s Office and 85.3% at the Department of Consumer Protection.

Through December, 15,025 state employees were paid overtime—1,024 fewer than the same period in 2023—with an average payment of $10,074, up 1.4%.

DESPP employees were paid an average $21,863—the highest of any agency—followed by DMHAS ($15,416), DDS ($11,994), DOC ($11,429), and OLM, where 48 workers earned an average $6,952.