MacIver News Service | May 1, 2013

[Madison, Wisc…] The state of Wisconsin saved $13.7 million on state employees’ reduced overtime in 2012 as a result of Act 10’s structural reforms.

The 22 percent reduction in overtime costs was a factor in the state’s surplus, which will prove beneficial in the 2013-2015 budget. Overtime costs across all state agencies decreased from $63.1 million in 2011 to $49.4 million in 2012.

An even more drastic change came from the Department of Transportation, whose overtime fell from $5.7 million in 2011 to $4.1 million in 2012, which represents a reduction of 28 percent.

The Department of Transportation, however, was one of the worst offenders when it came to giving their employees excess overtime payments. In 2011, 8 of the top 15 highest paid overtime positions were from Metro Transit. One bus driver, whose salary is $49,424, made an additional $30,989 in overtime, the most of any state worker.

With overtime payments in the tens of thousands, it can be a salary all on its own.

As the MacIver Institute reported in the past, overtime can be an immense challenge for state and local government. But with Act 10 in place, government agencies have proved more efficient.