Pennsylvania’s cash-strapped capital has approved the release of overtime pay to city firefighters and other workers.

Harrisburg’s City Council approved the payment of more than $500,000 to employees including firefighters, police dispatchers and officers in the city’s Technical Services Division.

The city withheld overtime pay this fall after allocations in the 2010 budget ran out.

Harrisburg had been in danger of being unable to make its payroll expenses this week before a transfer of county hotel tax proceeds boosted its cash on hand to about $1.7 million on Tuesday.

The debt-ridden capital is seeking distressed city status under a state oversight program for struggling municipalities.