By Steve Schultze
Journal Sentinel
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wisc. — Exploding overtime costs at the Milwaukee County House of Correction in Franklin may get some relief through a special offer to allow correctional officers to transfer there from the downtown jail, officials said Monday.
The county already has paid out more than $1 million in overtime to House of Correction employees — more than the facility’s entire overtime budget for the year, according to figures from the county comptroller’s office.
The recent transfer of more than two dozen officers from the Franklin facility to the jail by Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. accelerated an already bad overtime situation. Clarke took that step just before relinquishing control of the Franklin lockup, also called Milwaukee County Correctional Facility-South, last week to Michael Hafemann, the newly appointed superintendent.
Clarke’s employee transfer triggered an order requiring House of Correction officers to give up weekend days off and to work at least an extra four hours a day, said Kevin Schoofs, president of the union local representing the officers.
Full story: Transfers to Milwaukee County lockup may ease rising overtime costs