Fairfax County paid out $50 million in overtime and $23 million in sick leave to its employees last year.
The expenditures, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Examiner, went to the more than 11,000 workers employed by Virginia’s largest local government outside the school system. Fairfax County Public Schools has not yet responded to a similar FOIA request filed Jan 8.
County spokeswoman Merni Fitzgerald, citing privacy regulations, declined to comment on how many hours of overtime were accrued by employees in 2006.
She also refused to specify how the $50 million breaks down among specific county staff members.
She said the county, in some cases, calls on employees with specific expertise to work extra instead of hiring new staff.
In emergencies, such as last year’s severe flooding in Huntington, she said, many employees end up working hours beyond their regular shift.
