New York City Comptroller Mark Levine released a report detailing projected overtime spending for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for Fiscal Year 2026. City officials estimate the department will spend $890 million on overtime during the fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2025, to June 20, 2026.

The report identifies this figure as the third highest annual overtime spending amount on record for the department. The NYPD accounts for 40 percent of annual overtime pay among all city workers. The comptroller stated the executive budget will not cover these projected costs.

"Overtime spending has been a clear cost the NYPD wants to rein in, especially as New York City seeks to reduce recurring expenses in light of projected budget gaps," Levine said in a written statement. "Overtime should be used when absolutely necessary to enable police officers to keep communities safe. This report offers an assessment for how the department can better plan for events that continue to drive up overtime costs, and highlights the potential for structural savings that can better equip the City for an uncertain economic future."

The report recommends requiring written pre-event staffing plans and post-event reviews for events that generate overtime. It suggests implementing minimum rest periods for officers following mandatory overtime and establishing maximum limits for consecutive hours worked. The report also recommends requiring written mitigation plans for commands that repeatedly exceed overtime targets utilizing options such as rotation or staffing changes. Additional recommendations include quarterly compliance reporting, corrective action plans for repeated noncompliance, formal escalation pathways for repeat overages, and publishing annual summaries of audit findings.