Pennsylvania government overtime grew 10 percent last year

A new study says Pennsylvania state workers were paid a two-decade high of $250 million in overtime last year, an increase of nearly 10 percent over 2014.

The Sunday Times of Scranton reported that its analysis of payroll records showed a five-year trend of increased use of overtime, attributing it to hiring freezes and unfilled vacancies.

The paper says other factors driving the increase include a doubling of prison overtime since 2010, medical care at state hospitals and security provided by state police for Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia in September.

Overtime has been increasing in the Corrections Department even as both the department’s workforce and the number of prisoners are down by nearly 3 percent over the past six years.