Union director Mary Schwanger tells WHTM-TV the freeze affects mostly Harrisburg's dispatchers, who she says are working mandatory 16-hour shifts to cover a depleted staff.
Harrisburg Controller Dan Miller blamed the problem on supervisors who authorize overtime when money isn't budgeted for it. He says $50,000 was budgeted for overtime this year but it's already been used up.
Miller says money will be moved around in the budget to ensure the workers are paid.
The city is saddled with more than $280 million in debt related to overhauling its aging incinerator. The heavy debt has prompted some city officials to explore bankruptcy.
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Information from: WHTM-TV, http://www.whtm.com
