The city spent $12 million more than expected on police overtime, largely as a result of police officers directing traffic in construction areas.

Montreal provided updated budget projections on Wednesday showing the city expects a surplus of $62 million for 2016, mostly from spending less on salaries, snow clearing, and other city services.

However, the cost of directing traffic is eating into the budget.

Alex Norris of Projet Montreal said it's unacceptable that the city is spending so much money on traffic duty.

As the opposition party pointed out earlier this year, Montreal police officers directing traffic are earning overtime pay.

"When members of the public see police officers standing at intersections directing traffic and know they're paying these officers two and sometimes three times as much as other cities pay civilians to do this week, they become cynical and lose respect for those officers," said Norris.

Within the past week, a pedestrian punched a police officer at an intersection. That pedestrian is now facing assault charges.

Montreal police inspector Andre Durocher said while other cities use civilians to direct traffic, it's not an option in Montreal.

"The Highway Safety Code does not allow us to allow civilians to do it," said Durocher.

He added that given the tremendous amount of frustration drivers face going through multiple construction zones, he doesn't think civilian traffic monitors would be obeyed.

"Keep in mind the density. You take a look at where all the work sites are being undertaken downtown with the amount of pedestrians. People don't respect necessarily civilians to do it," said Durocher.

Police are also handing out fewer tickets. They are on track to collect $19 million less than predicted, similar to last year.

That loss in revenue is partially offset by a $9 million boost in property taxes.

Montreal ended the 2015 fiscal year with a $145.8-million surplus.

By law, cities in Quebec are not allowed to run deficits.