A number of major crime investigations kept Guelph police officers busy through the fall, and ballooned paid overtime hours in the process.
According to a preliminary variance report headed to the Guelph Police Services Board meeting Thursday, paid overtime went $822,000 over budget as of the end of 2023.
Banked and paid overtime hours were up year-over-year by 11,304 straight time hours.
“All areas recorded an increase in overtime hours from 2022 levels except for legislated/mandated and no lunch,” the report states.
“Overtime hours include 2,380 relating to the downtown supplemental staffing project which was a special project approved by the board and supported by city council for 2023.”
For comparison, paid overtime spending was $344,000 over budget as of the end of September, according to a previous report.
At that point, police anticipated the remainder of the year to present challenges due to staffing vacancies and the “higher than normal level major crime investigations.”
