The number of overtime hours New Mexico state government employees are working is on the rise and the cost of that overtime was up significantly for the 2013 budget year.
Personnel figures released this month show the state paid out nearly $36.7 million in overtime, representing nearly 1.6 million hours. Three years earlier, the cost of roughly 1 million in overtime hours was $24.4 million.
Rep. Luciano "Lucky" Varela says he's concerned about the trend.
He questions why some state agencies have not been using the full amount of money appropriated to them by the Legislature for filling vacant jobs.
State Personnel Director Gene Moser says the rise in overtime cost and usage is attributable to an aging workforce and a spike in retirements.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
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