[US] MTA’s payroll and overtime payments hit record highs

In the US, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) payroll reached a record-high of $7.8 billion in 2023 and overtime payments broke records too, MSN reports.

The research was conducted by the fiscal watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy.

The MTA is responsible for public transportation in New York City. Its total payroll leapt by $663 million (9 per cent) last year while overtime spending climbed $75 million (6 per cent) to $1.37 billion.

The previous record was reportedly in 2018 when MTA overtime totalled $1.35 billion.

According to the Empire Center, 724 MTA employees each earned more than $100,000 in overtime in 2023.

Among the MTA’s eight subsidiaries, Long Island Rail Road’s employees earned the highest per-worker overtime, averaging $26,028 in 2023, the Empire Center said.

The Empire Center found from payroll record research that the agency’s subsidiaries also paid out $261 million in retroactive wages.

Joana Flores - an MTA spokesperson - said the agency’s “overall budget is down in real dollars compared to prior years.”

Ms Flores defended the agency’s overtime.

“The MTA is providing a ton more service with record on-time performance, and overtime, which is authorized in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, is a strategic tool used to keep trains running and the system safe,” she said.

“That strategy has paid off - crime is down and on-time performance has surged, with schedules that include a substantially higher number of trains.”

Source: MSN

(Quotes via original reporting)

In the US, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) payroll reached a record-high of $7.8 billion in 2023 and overtime payments broke records too, MSN reports.

The research was conducted by the fiscal watchdog group Empire Center for Public Policy.

The MTA is responsible for public transportation in New York City. Its total payroll leapt by $663 million (9 per cent) last year while overtime spending climbed $75 million (6 per cent) to $1.37 billion.

The previous record was reportedly in 2018 when MTA overtime totalled $1.35 billion.

According to the Empire Center, 724 MTA employees each earned more than $100,000 in overtime in 2023.

Among the MTA’s eight subsidiaries, Long Island Rail Road’s employees earned the highest per-worker overtime, averaging $26,028 in 2023, the Empire Center said.

The Empire Center found from payroll record research that the agency’s subsidiaries also paid out $261 million in retroactive wages.

Joana Flores - an MTA spokesperson - said the agency’s “overall budget is down in real dollars compared to prior years.”

Ms Flores defended the agency’s overtime.

“The MTA is providing a ton more service with record on-time performance, and overtime, which is authorized in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, is a strategic tool used to keep trains running and the system safe,” she said.

“That strategy has paid off - crime is down and on-time performance has surged, with schedules that include a substantially higher number of trains.”

Source: MSN

(Quotes via original reporting)