Chicago Unveils Public Dashboard to Track Soaring Police Overtime Costs Amid Budget Turmoil
A New Era of Transparency in the City’s Most Expensive Department
In the wake of growing concerns over skyrocketing city expenses and a looming budget deficit, Chicago's Office of the Inspector General has launched a new interactive dashboard aimed at shedding light on overtime spending within the Chicago Police Department (CPD). This move comes at a critical time as the city begins preparing for a projected $1.2 billion shortfall in its 2026 budget.
A Closer Look at CPD’s Overtime Surge
According to the latest city data, CPD spent a staggering $273.8 million on overtime in 2024 — an amount more than two and a half times what was originally allocated by the City Council. While this figure represents a 6.5% decrease from 2023, it continues a trend of unchecked overtime expenditures that have more than doubled since 2019.
In total, the city disbursed $510.9 million in overtime pay across all departments in 2024, and more than half of that went solely to CPD officers.
Budget Impact and Public Accountability
With CPD consuming nearly 46% of Chicago’s discretionary spending, the department remains by far the most resource-intensive branch of city government. The Inspector General, Deborah Witzburg, emphasized this concern, noting, “CPD is the department which, by a gaping margin, occupies the largest percentage of the city’s budget. Its overtime spending alone eclipses the total budgets of many other city agencies.”
The new dashboard offers unprecedented transparency. Citizens, lawmakers, and public officials can now filter overtime data by rank, unit, and time period, making it easier to identify patterns or inefficiencies in spending. This tool is designed to help stakeholders monitor costs more closely and demand accountability.
High Earners and Public Scrutiny
An analysis of the data reveals that more than 290 city employees earned over $100,000 in overtime alone in 2024 — and nearly 69% of those employees were members of CPD. These additional earnings come on top of base salaries, raising questions about sustainability, scheduling practices, and the need for potential staffing reforms.
The Road Ahead
City officials face difficult decisions as they prepare the 2026 spending plan. With the updated budget forecast due by the end of August, the timing of this dashboard is strategic. It serves not only as a cost-control tool but also as a public engagement platform — offering taxpayers a chance to see exactly where their money is going.
The Office of the Inspector General continues to manage a range of data portals, including those detailing CPD staffing and departmental operations. The release of this new tool underscores the city’s commitment to greater financial transparency and a more informed public discourse.