AUSTIN, Texas - Overtime expenses for Austin's emergency services have surpassed budgeted allocations by millions of dollars this fiscal year, driving municipal leaders to evaluate public safety spending ahead of upcoming budget decisions.

Dig deeper: Members of the Austin City Council's Public Safety Committee and the Public Safety Commission met Monday afternoon at City Hall for a joint briefing with agency heads to review year-to-date spending for the Austin Police Department, the Austin Fire Department, and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.

Financial reports through June 30 show that while police and fire departments continue to rely heavily on extra shifts to maintain baseline coverage, EMS expenditures have remained under allocated caps.