Although the state's economy is being crippled by a multibillion dollar deficit, records show overtime payments for state workers increased by more than 16 percent last year.

The state is turning to a variety of options to deal with the budget crisis. Those options include closing state parks, controversial toll and gas hike proposals and job cuts. However, overtime spending still increased by millions.

Hunterdon Developmental Center, a state-run facility, exemplifies the out-of-control overtime spending. Last year alone, workers there earned more than $11 million in overtime - an increase of $1.5 million from the previous year.

A trainer working at the facility increased her base pay of $42,000 to more than $134,000 through logging the extra hours. Another employee's salary skyrocketed from $40,000 to almost $114,000.

The state police spent the most on overtime with $29 million dished out in extra pay. That number, however, did decrease from the previous year.

The overtime records were obtained by New Jersey's Gannett newspapers under the state Open Public Records Act. Those records show more than 150 state workers doubled their pay through overtime last year.

For more coverage of state overtime, starting Sunday:Asbury Park PressHome News Tribune and Courier-NewsFor complete access to the database, including how much individual departments spent on overtime, or how much individual employees earned:Data Universe