VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Nearly 30 Volusia County EMTs have been told they were overpaid because of a payroll system error and must repay tens of thousands of dollars, a demand workers say will worsen already severe financial strain.
The repayment amounts vary widely, FOX 35 reported. One notice cited a $76 overpayment, while other EMTs reported bills of about $40,000, and one employee was told to repay $62,000.
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The county says some employees have been overpaid since September 2023 and it is now seeking repayment. Officials said the issue was isolated and did not affect other county workers.
The error involved a shift differential for lead EMTs working the Basic Life Support night shift that was incorrectly coded in the payroll system.
As a result, lead EMTs received double pay for those shifts. County officials said they are legally required to recover the overpayments.
The error resulted in lead EMTs receiving double pay for certain shifts, and county officials say they are legally required to recover the money. One EMT said the repayments could mean losing hundreds of dollars each month, adding, “People can’t afford that,” while others said the extra pay went unnoticed because of long overtime hours.
The International Association of EMTs and Paramedics Local 77 says it is challenging the county’s repayment demand. In a statement, the interim president said the union is seeking full documentation of the alleged errors, an explanation of how they occurred and clarity on the county’s legal authority to recover wages paid over multiple years.
Meanwhile, Local 77’s president resigned on Jan. 26, and the vice president, secretary and treasurer are also stepping down. The interim president said the resignations are unrelated to the payroll issue.
