Dallas City Wire

Mayor Eric Johnson has requested an audit of the Dallas Police Department’s overtime budget.

The mayor made his request after police overtime became a major issue during the City Council’s budget discussion for this year. The bulk of the City Council eventually decided to cut about 25% of the police department’s overtime budget in a bipartisan vote.

According to records, the police paid more than $31 million on uniform overtime last year alone. This fiscal year, the budget earmarks $17.3 million in overtime payments.

“As city leaders, we must remain focused on public safety and accountability,” Johnson said in a press release. “If the police overtime budget has been abused or mismanaged, especially to the tune of $7 million, the people of Dallas deserve to know, and we will need city management to take steps to correct any problems. And if police overtime has not been abused or mismanaged, the people of Dallas deserve to know, and to have the confidence that their government is operating in a fiscally sound manner.”