Overtime costs at state agencies in New York reached a record $850 million in 2020, a 5.5% increase in earnings from the previous year, a report by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office released Tuesday found. 

The overtime increase is part of an upward trend in New York, but also came amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the government's response. 

"State agency overtime reached a record level last year," DiNapoli said. "The COVID-19 pandemic required state workers across New York to work long, grueling hours to deal with a crisis never before seen during our lifetime. The pandemic touched nearly every aspect of our lives and the men and women in public employment stepped up to help keep the public safe and get critical benefits."

Many of the agencies that saw a dramatic rise in overtime do not usually see extra pay doled for more hours worked, including a sharp rise in overtime at the state Department of Labor, the Department of Health, the Department of Taxation and Finance and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. All agencies saw increased need for state services during the pandemic last year. 

Still, the agencies that saw the most overtime in New York last year included the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the Office of Mental Health. Those agencies make up nearly 70% of the overtime earned while comprising 25% of the state workforce.

Overall, a combined 19 million hours of overtime was worked last year, an increase of 3.9%, the report found.