When city council votes on the snow control budget next Wednesday, it will include a nearly $1 million boost over the previous year.
Staff are recommending increasing the city's snow clearing intake to $6 million in order to combat historical shortfalls and build up a long-depleted reserve fund. The city is already about half a million dollars over budget for the 2013 snow clearing operations.
But with an average cost - $5.06 million over the past 10 years - some councillors are wondering if there isn't too much being put aside for a snowy day.
"I'm not suggesting for one moment that we reduce the level of snow control in this community, but I am saying that I am concerned about the percentage of the increase that's going into the fund for snow," said Coun. Dave Wilbur, who pointed to 2011 as a year with an extraordinary levels of snowfall. "It seems to me that when we're restricting ourselves to a 2.5 per cent increase to the levy and a full 1.15 per cent of it is going to this snowy day fund, that means that everything else takes a hit and a back seat."
Coun. Albert Koehler agreed.
"I I think we are over budgeting and we probably could have more money available for something else that's equally important or more important," he said, suggesting an increase to $5.6 million might be more appropriate.
According to figures provided by city staff, the city's costs to clear snow have exceeded the collected levy for eight out of the past 10 years.
Coun. Frank Everitt said it was looking at the issue through the correct lens.
"Maybe that 25 per cent [of the levy to put into a reserve] is on the high side of a contingency budget, but it's in the right direction. So I would be supportive of that," he said.
The budgets for the operations department come before council on Dec. 4 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
