Waste of the Day: Record Overtime in L.A.

Topline: The Los Angeles Police Department spent $315.5 million on overtime last year, and the fire department spent $283.4 million, leading to inflated take-home pay, according to payroll records obtained by Open the Books. Both were the highest amounts in city history as the departments continue to be grossly understaffed.

The Los Angeles chronic overtime problem

Key facts: California Gov. Gavin Newsom had a salary of $242,295 last year. There were 89 fire and police employees in Los Angeles who made more than that in overtime alone.

Fire battalion chief Nicholas Ferrrari made $653,484 in overtime. It was the highest ever for a Los Angeles employee, breaking his own record from 2024. Another fire battalion chief, Scott Hilton, made $436,722 in overtime. Two fire inspectors — who make sure buildings comply with safety regulations — made $424,471 and $396,734 in overtime.

In total, 178 fire employees made at least $200,000 from overtime. The average full-time fire department employee earned $66,721 in overtime.

The highest-paid police officer was Sergeant Habib Munoz, who made $231,000 in overtime. Ten fire and police employees have already made $100,000 in overtime in 2026, as of April 20.

Overtime costs soared in 2025 in part due to the Palisades wildfire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of buildings. Firefighters were working up to 48 hours without rest because the department was, according to CNN, “among the most understaffed in America.”

The police department has the same problem. The New York Post recently reported that Los Angeles’ 911 system is on the “brink of collapse” because of staffing shortages. Only half of 911 calls were answered in 15 seconds or less in 2024, even though California requires 90% to be answered that quickly.

Budget deficits

The city’s huge budget deficits, driven in part by pensions and benefits, make it difficult to fund new hires. Critics also argue the background check process takes too long — often 9 to 12 months — and candidates take other jobs instead.

Search all federal, state and local salaries and vendor spending with the world’s largest government spending database at OpenTheBooks.com. 

Background: Open the Books has filed thousands of open records requests to compile government salaries from 2025. Los Angeles’ overtime payments exceed those of almost every other major U.S. city.

The top overtime earner in New York City last year was a plumber who got $331,814. Austin’s highest overtime payment was $218,483. Philadelphia did not pay anyone more than $71,000 in overtime.

There are likely other high overtime earners in Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power, which has not yet released its payroll despite a March 31 deadline. It typically spends more on overtime than any other city agency.

The city did not return an inquiry asking why the data has not been released.

Summary: Los Angeles’ fiscal irresponsibility not only bilks taxpayers; it endangers public safety.

The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com.

This article was originally published by RealClearInvestigations and made available via RealClearWire.