Heavy snow late last winter has pushed the city's snow removal budget into the red.
According to a report headed to the June 20 meeting of the operations committee, the budget is $1.8 million over forecast as a result of bad weather in the first four months of 2016.
“The city received approximately 303 centimetres, or 185 per cent of the average snowfall, from January through April,” the report says. “This above-average snowfall in the first four months of the year contributed to an over expenditure of approximately $1.8 million in winter control activities.
“Large over-expenditures occurred in sanding/salting/plowing ($1.1 million), snow removal ($0.6 million) and sidewalk maintenance ($0.1 million).”
The toughest month weather-wise was February, when 117 cm of snow fell, compared to the normal, 30-year average of 52 cm. April saw 55 cm of snow, compared to the normal 17 cm.
While the snow removal budget often balances itself out over 12 months, the city has a reserve designated to fund any variances in a year. It's replenished in years with milder weather when there's a surplus in the budget.
