New York City is facing a massive financial burden as its workers deal with the ongoing migrant crisis.
Over the past fiscal year, workers in the Departments of Social Services (DSS) and Homeless Services (DHS) logged nearly 3 million overtime hours.
This effort cost taxpayers an eye-popping $139 million, showing how serious the crisis has become.
Out of the 100 city workers with the highest overtime hours, 51 were from DSS and DHS. Their primary tasks involve helping migrants who have arrived in the city.
Each of these workers clocked at least 1,851 overtime hours, with some working as much as 14 hours a day, seven days a week.
One notable case is Kashwayne Burnett, a DSS bookkeeper, who worked an astonishing 3,303 hours of overtime, earning $164,760 in extra pay—more than triple his $60,445 base salary. Others, like Bardhan Pijush and Gavin McAuley, also logged over 2,600 hours of overtime each.
The number of workers from these agencies with high overtime hours has surged. In fiscal year 2022, only three workers from these departments were on the top 100 overtime list. By fiscal 2023, that number jumped to 47, and now it’s 51.
City officials estimate that the migrant crisis has already cost $6.5 billion, with 53,800 migrants currently housed in taxpayer-funded shelters.
Since April 2022, over 226,900 asylum seekers and border crossers have arrived in NYC, putting immense pressure on city services.
The combined overtime hours of DSS and DHS staff jumped by 67% compared to fiscal year 2021, before the migrant crisis began.
In 2021, workers logged 1.77 million overtime hours, costing $72.3 million. By fiscal year 2024, those figures rose to nearly 3 million hours and $139.4 million in payouts.
The financial impact has sparked concerns among city officials and experts. City Councilman Robert Holden criticized the situation, saying, “We simply can’t continue down this path. Taxpayers are sick of it.”
Ken Girardin, from the Empire Center for Public Policy, warned that the costs will continue to pile up. “We’re going to see bills like this for at least another year,” he said.
A DSS spokesperson, Neha Sharma, defended the staff, stating, “Our staff has worked tirelessly under unprecedented challenges to support asylum seekers and vulnerable New Yorkers.”
However, many New Yorkers are questioning how long this can go on. The migrant crisis has not only stretched city resources thin but has also left taxpayers wondering how these rising costs will affect them in the long run.
With no immediate solution in sight, the city faces mounting pressure to address both the financial and operational challenges of this growing crisis.
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Archer Bannister is a journalist with 4 years of experience covering hard-hitting stories. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Archer specializes in delivering timely and in-depth updates on a variety of topics, including crime news, politics, and national issues affecting the USA. His expertise and dedication to delivering accurate, impactful news make him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to stay informed on critical topics.
