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Back when federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis restrained the FDNY from hiring new firefighters — as part of his campaign to impose personal oversight over its allegedly biased hiring practices — City Hall warned the decision would cost millions in overtime.

Now, as The Post’s David Seifman reports, the actual costs are even worse than originally thought.

Because Garaufis — who sees racism in virtually every action the FDNY undertakes — has vetoed any new hiring, the department is 450 firefighters below its authorized head count

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Back in 2009, the FDNY’s overtime tab for uniformed firefighters had dropped to a four-year low of $128 million.

In 2010, it spiked to $158 million. Last year, the total reached $198 million.

This year, the $200 million line is certain to be breached. (The department’s overtime bill for all employees is expected to hit $238 million.)

Bottom line: Garaufis’ judicial wrongheadedness will end up costing taxpayers at least $161 million in extra overtime alone

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Meanwhile, FDNY retirements have started going up — as some firefighters apparently are taking advantage of the OT bonanza to boost their pay and cash out, padding their taxpayer-funded pensions