The city of Houston is on track to spend about $9 million less on police overtime in fiscal year 2025-26 compared to last year.
Budget explained
In FY 2024-25, the city spent $39.7 million on overtime pay for the police department, according to Houston’s finance department. For FY 2025-26, the city is expected to spend approximately $30.9 million on overtime. However, city officials said that while the cost is lower than the previous year, it is still slightly over the budgeted amount, which was $30.8 million.
Finance Director Melissa Dubowski presented the overtime spending for the Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department and the Solid Waste Department during the city’s August Budget and Fiscal Affairs committee meeting.
The total headcount for police officers in FY 2025-26 is about 5,409, up from the 5,251 in FY 2024-25, according to the presentation.
Some of the overtime can be paid through funds other than the city’s general funds, including airport and Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County funds, Dubowski said.
“For police, the majority of our reimbursements do come from the airport system, about $5.9 million, and some reimbursements from METRO at about $1.2 million,” she said.
The projections
On the other hand, the Houston Fire Department is projected to be under budget by $3.4 million for overtime spending The department budgeted for $82.6 million in FY 2025-26 and is projected to spend just over $79 million.
During FY 2024-25, HFD spent over $87.8 million on overtime. The headcount for firefighters is 3,938.
“We do have events and disasters that increase overtime,” Dubowski said. “But in general the number of hours worked in FY 2025-26 is lower than the previous fiscal year.”
HFD officials also showed the average EMS response time in 2026 is 15 minutes and 6 seconds. For fire, it is 12 minutes and 31 seconds.
“There’s a lot of demographics and geography to consider,” HFD Chief Thomas Munoz said. “We’re looking into all the factors that can be worked on to ensure that the response time is there.”
What else?
The solid waste department is expected to be on budget, spending $5.9 million on overtime, per the presentation.
Dubowski said much of the overtime spending is unpredictable and event-driven. She said the final savings are still not yet calculated, as the city is still finalizing its savings and paying invoices before it can give a final offset.
