The city will increase their plowing budget, but not by as much as previously thought.
The proposed snow clearing budget, which was presented by staff with a nearly $1 million increase over previous years' allotments was limited to an $800,000 boost.
Coun. Dave Wilbur initiated a motion to limit the increase to boost the plowing operations and add to the long-depleted reserve. The snow clearing fund traditionally goes over budget and the extra money is pulled from the city's general reserve.
Going into the budget process the proposed increase to the snow clearing fund accounted for 1.15 per cent of the overall 2.5 per cent tax levy increase.
Wilbur said he wasn't comfortable with the size of the increase, given the average cost of snow clearing for the past decade came in at less than $5.1 million.
"I have a comfort of having that safety net there... but going forward and looking at all the other factors... that seems to me disproportionate to the risk," said Wilbur. "I would be much more comfortable with a figure less than $6 million."
The extra $200,000 was moved to the city's general infrastructure reinvestment fund, which was created during the 2013 budget process. That money is earmarked for investment in the city's facilities and other assets.
