Carthage tables overtime changes that could cost officers $2,000 a year

A proposal to change overtime rules for Carthage, Missouri, police officers and firefighters is on hold after a lengthy City Council debate.

Council members voted Tuesday night to table Council Bill 26-48.

City officials said the changes were intended to bring police and fire overtime policies in line with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The proposal comes as Carthage faces a budget deficit of more than $380,000.

Under the proposed policy, police officers would generally have to physically work 80 hours during a 14-day period before earning overtime.

Vacation, sick leave, holiday leave and compensatory time would not count toward that total.

The city’s proposal would also change how some call-backs are paid.

City documents show Carthage currently uses a 147-hour, 24-day work period for police. The proposed policy would switch officers to an 80-hour, 14-day period, similar to several other departments surveyed by the city.

The proposal drew opposition from the Carthage Police Officers Association and Southwest Missouri Regional Lodge 27 of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Police Chief Chad Dininger said the change would cost the average officer about $2,000 a year.

They argue changes to compensation should be handled through ongoing contract negotiations between officers and the city.

City records also show the 80-hour work period itself may not be the main sticking point.

The larger disagreement centers on what hours count toward that threshold and how officers are paid when called back to work.

The city says it continues to negotiate with the police union.