Columbus City Council is set to discuss legislation on Monday, Oct. 19, that would direct the city auditor to review overtime spending in the police and fire divisions before work begins on the 2027 budget. The proposal comes as each division is running nearly $8 million over its overtime budget for the year, while both departments continue to report significant staffing shortages.
According to the city’s finance director, each division is nearly $8 million over its overtime budget. The proposed review would compare budgeted overtime with actual spending, giving council members a clearer picture of where the money went as they prepare for next year’s budget decisions. Council is seeking emergency action on the measure so it can take effect before the budget process begins.
The spending debate is unfolding alongside persistent vacancies in both departments. The Fraternal Order of Police says Columbus is short about 200 officers, and the firefighters’ union reports a shortage of 120 firefighters. With hundreds of positions unfilled, overtime has become a central tool for keeping crews staffed and calls answered across the city.
Union leaders have warned that reducing overtime without first addressing those vacancies could threaten public safety. Steve Stein, president of Columbus Firefighters Union Local 67, framed the issue around the service residents expect. “We work for the citizens of Columbus. They are driving the demand for these services, and they rightfully expect trained professionals to not only show up, but show up quickly and in a timely manner,” Stein said.
Mayor Andrew Ginther said the city expanded hiring when funding allowed, adding three police recruit classes and two fire recruit classes annually. He said the city wants to return to that pace but faces tighter finances, a constraint that leaves the administration balancing the cost of overtime against the cost and time required to recruit and train new officers and firefighters.
For Columbus residents, the stakes are practical: staffing levels shape how quickly police respond to calls and how fully fire crews can be assembled when emergencies happen. The audit would not by itself fill any vacancies, but it would put verified overtime figures in front of council members as they weigh whether future budgets should direct more money toward hiring, toward overtime, or toward both.
Council planned to discuss the measure at 5 p.m. Monday. The legislation would require a review only — it would not itself set overtime limits or resolve the staffing gaps. If council moves forward, the auditor’s findings are expected to inform the city’s 2027 budget deliberations, where the overtime numbers, the reported shortages of about 200 officers and 120 firefighters, and the city’s hiring capacity will all be on the table.