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MONDAY 03.09.15
Snow means
big overtime
for the states
highway crews
SHANNON MULLEN @MULLENAPP
When the snow falls like it did Thursday, the overtime bill for state highway workers goes up. And up.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority paid out more
than $16.1million in overtime last year, up nearly 12 percent, according to an analysis of payroll data by the Asbury Park Press.
The lions share of those payouts, $9.5 million or
nearly 60 percent, was snow-related, said Turnpike
spokesman Tom Feeney.
Given the severity of this winter, its a safe bet that
number will be even higher for this year.
As we say every year, overtime is a fact of life in a
24/7 operation like the Turnpike Authority. We have
jobs that have to be staffed at all times. In some cases,
the most efficient way to staff them is to pay somebody
overtime, Feeney said in an email.
The authoritys overall payroll was almost $162.4
million for 2,999 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. That total was down from $163.6 million in
2013.
The authority is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of both the New Jersey Turnpike and the
Garden State Parkway.
Even some of the OT that is not classified as snowrelated was necessary because of the weather, Feeney
said. The brutal winter last year meant a very difficult
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VOLUME 136
NUMBER 58
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