"One major source of overspending in the city is the police department. By far the most expensive city service, the Oakland Police Department's $386 million budget this year is about 19% of Oakland's total spending. And each year, OPD has come under scrutiny for its runaway overtime spending, routinely blowing past its approved levels by millions of dollars. Last fiscal year, the Department spent over $55 million on overtime. Thirty-one million of this was over budget."
"According to Huy Nguyen, president of the Oakland Police Officers Association - the city's police union - OPD's ongoing staffing shortage is driving overtime. "At this staffing level, more officers will be forced to work excessive overtime, which in turn will accelerate attrition," Nguyen said in a statement. "We cannot meet the needs of our community without forcing officers into more shifts.""
"But historical data throws into question whether increasing staffing will rectify OPD's chronic overtime overspending. A recent report by several civilian city unions found that over the past 15 years, even when department staffing increased, overtime continued to go up. From 2011 to 2024, staffing increased by nearly 9%. Over the same period, overtime went up by almost 200%."
Oakland faces recurring budget deficits of roughly $120 million annually through 2030, forcing potential cuts unless new revenue appears. The Oakland Police Department accounts for $386 million or about 19% of city spending. OPD spent over $55 million on overtime last fiscal year, $31 million above budget. The police union attributes excessive overtime to ongoing staffing shortages, while the mayor plans to increase officer counts. Historical analysis shows a nearly 9% staffing increase from 2011 to 2024 coincided with almost 200% growth in overtime. Civilian layoffs and spending freezes have accompanied rising six‑figure overtime payouts to officers.
Read at The Oaklandside
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