Mild winter, few storms saves city money

The mild winter had a positive effect on the city's snow-removal budget.

For the first three months of 2012, the municipality spent $451,058 less than it estimated it would need to clear city streets of ice and snow.

For all of 2012, the city estimated it would have to spend $8,131,134, but expenditures came in at $7,680,076. In March alone, the city spent $600,000 less than what was budgeted, largely because 38 cm of the 45 cm of snow received in March fell in one storm.

Budget costs include sanding, salting, plowing and snow removal.

While the total amount of snow last winter exceeded annual averages, snowfall was generally concentrated in a few major storms, making it much less costly to remove.

In January, Sudbury normally receives 64 cm of snow, but it received 98 cm; in February, the city normally receives 50 cm, but received just 42; and for March, the city normally receives 39 cm for the month, compared with the 45 cm that actually fell.

The cost savings in snow removal helped make up for over-expenditures in sanding, salting and plowing budget – $159,221 for 2012 – as well as administration, which went over-budget by $2,035.

Posted by Arron Pickard