Another increase to the city's snow-clearing budget was given the green light Wednesday afternoon as city council continued their 2016 budget deliberations.
Council made no changes to the recommended $7 million fund for street and sidewalk snow plowing, a $700,000 increase to the 2015 budget.
City staff have continually recommended bumping up the snow budget, as the operation consistently goes over its allotment. The 2014 expense was nearly $650,000 in excess of its budget.
"I think $7 million is just enough for an average snowfall year," said finance director Kris Dalio, adding that if the city was serious about putting away enough to start building up a reserve, the necessary budget figure would be $7.3 million.
Part of the increase also has to do with new measures put in place following recommendations from last year's consultant report on the operation.
This includes new expenses for having equipment on retainer and leasing equipment.
According to engineering and public works director Gina Layte Liston, the 2015 snow clearing expenses are currently under budget, sitting at $5.03 million.
But one good snowfall before the end of the year could push that figure over it's $6.3 million budget.
It costs about $700,000 to deal with a snowfall immediately and another $300,000 for the required clean up, said Layte Liston.
"In the next month, it's hard to say where we'll be," she said.
Coun. Jillian Merrick said she didn't want to make adjustments to the figure, given how poorly snow clearing was received in the recent past. But she did say she would like to have a conversation about whether the amount of money the city is putting into its roads, including paving and snow plowing, is sustainable long term.
