COVERITLIVE.COM

12:57

Dale McConnaughay - Welcome, everyone. We'll get started here in just a few minutes here with today's online editorial board discussion.

12:59

Dale McConnaughay - Hey Mark, welcome!

12:59

Dale McConnaughay - Jason will be with us as well ...

12:59

Dale McConnaughay - Good afternoon, Leg

1:00	Dale McConnaughay - Okay, I will launch question No. 1 in a second here. I wanted to mention that I have added two more questions -- 5,6 -- if we get the chance to get to them ...

1:00	Dale McConnaughay - Following the RPD overtime saga, which is expected to move to a vote this week. What is the long-term implications for a city department that repeatedly exceeds its budget?

1:01

[Comment From LEG]
The police chief needs to respect the budget limitations that are set. If there is some specific emergency, I can see going over budget. But if council does not allocate as much for overtime as the PC asks for, that does not mean he gets to ignore the limits they do set. If overtime is planned to compensate for a hiring freeze, I wonder if hiring additional personnel wouldn’t be cheaper in the long run. Paying overtime at 1.5-2x does not seem a good way to handle understaffing.

1:02	Dale McConnaughay - Did anyone expect more from council last night, which is after all the budget-setting body for city?

1:02

[Comment From SJ]
It does not seem prudent for one specific department to continuously run over their allotted budget. I realize there will be exceptions to the rule, but at the same time, I don't think it should become a regular thing. If they continue to run over the budget, then perhaps they need new leadership and/or more studies done on how to reduce the OT like other cities similar to Richmond in size and income level do.

1:03	[Comment From Jason Truitt] LEG: When we did our series of stories on the OT issue, I asked Bill Engle to ask the question about hiring more officers to avoid OT. Wolski told Bill that when you add it all up, OT is cheaper than more personnel.

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