Comptroller Claims MTA Abused Overtime

POSTED on August 5, 2010

More than 140 employees at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) doubled their annual salaries through overtime pay last year, according to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.  DiNapoli said there was a “culture of acceptance” surrounding overtime abuse at the MTA.

“Uncontrolled overtime has been the rule rather than the exception at the MTA,” DiNapoli said. “The MTA is cutting services, raising fares and tolls and laying-off employees, but it should be doing more to control expenses.  Overtime shouldn’t equate to twice someone’s annual salary. When scores of employees are earning more in overtime than they make in salary, it’s time for the MTA to change the culture of acceptance to a culture of accountability.”

The MTA has faced a budget shortfall over the past several years and plans to increase fares on subways and buses next year.

DiNapoli’s audit found that one Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train car repairman received $142,857 in overtime pay, equal to 220 percent of his $64,865 annual salary. One hundred forty four other MTA employees earned more in overtime pay than from their annual salaries in 2009, according to the audit.

DiNapoli’s audit examined the MTA’s books between January 2008 and December 2009 and found four of the authority’s seven constituent agencies—the LIRR, Metro-North, Bridges and Tunnels and NYC Transit—accounted for almost 90 percent ($540 million) of all MTA overtime. The audit identified $56 million in potential overtime savings.

Auditors also discovered serious flaws in the MTA central office’s overtime budget practices. The central office accepted overtime budgets from constituent agencies without questioning them or making any effort to reduce overtime spending at constituent agencies. One Metro-North supervisor told auditors that overtime abuse was not a problem, despite a 32 percent increase in overtime costs at that agency over the last four years.

DiNapoli’s audit also found:

• More than 3,200 MTA employees at the MTA receive overtime pay equal to half of their annual salaries;
• Significant amounts of overtime incurred by replacing sick workers, even though no effort was made to find out whether replacements were needed; and
• Unjustified or undocumented work in 77 percent of sampled overtime transactions.

DiNapoli’s audit recommends the MTA:

• Match work schedules to work opportunities to reduce the need for overtime;
• Restrict overtime budgets to specific targets for overtime reduction; and
• Follow up on 59 questionable overtime payments identified by auditors.

The following chart identifies MTA employees who earned more than $100,000 in overtime during 2009 by job title, agency, overtime received and annual salary. A more complete chart of high overtime earners is included in the audit:

MTA workers earning more than $100,000 in overtime
For the Period January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009
		Compensation
Position	Agency	Overtime	Base Salary	Total
Foreman-Track	LIRR	$145,151	$82,249	$230,708
Car Repairman	LIRR	142,857	64,865	208,295
Supervisor Crew Dispatcher	LIRR	138,300	79,003	233,113
Car Repairman	LIRR	137,291	64,865	201,059
Officer	B & T	122,160	58,444	190,190
Asst Supervisor - C&S	Metro-North	117,331	81,976	199,306
Road Car Electrician	LIRR	116,466	66,826	186,723
Sergeant	B & T	112,949	76,384	223,628
Gang Foreman Mechanical	LIRR	111,688	82,249	198,397
Car Repairman	LIRR	111,382	64,865	174,287
Foreman	Metro-North	110,770	85,038	195,809
Road Inspector	LIRR	108,963	73,744	187,246
Foreman-Track	LIRR	108,581	82,249	196,061
Car Repairman	LIRR	107,970	80,029	174,638
Car Road Electrician	LIRR	107,077	66,826	178,177
Chief Train Dispatcher	LIRR	102,420	106,005	213,235