Overview
- Controller projections show overages of about $38 million for Fire, $13.2 million for Police, and $2.9 million for Solid Waste by June, an improvement from roughly $71.4 million last year.
- City finance officials present lower prior-year overages after midyear adjustments, and police and fire union leaders challenge the controller’s figures as inaccurate.
- Departments cite staffing shortfalls and emergency responses as key drivers, even after new multi‑year contracts that include about 36.5% raises for police and more than 30% for firefighters.
- Extreme weather can add about $1 million in overtime per day, and some council members want budgets to explicitly account for predictable disasters.
- Solid Waste staffing has fallen to about 385 employees as missed trash and recycling complaints rise, with a scheduled heavy‑trash pickup program set to start in March.