Before this most recent storm had even started, the city had overspent its $ 17.8 million snow removal budget, with costs so far coming in at $ 18.1 million.
However, that’s not to say the city can’t continue to clean up after snowstorms, according to the city’s chief financial officer, Meredith Weenick.
Weenick said that the city’s $ 2.5 billion budget should be able to take on the extra costs of this year’s snow removal through surpluses in other areas.
“It all falls to the bottom line,” Weenick said. “Over the course of the year, we watch the budget, and based on my projections, I feel confident that the known surpluses will cover the projected deficits, and even the potential for the next storm,” she said.
The $ 18.1 million overall winter of 2013 total roughly breaks down into:
- $ 2.7 million spent before the Blizzard of 2013
- $ 13 million spent on the blizzard itself, with $ 7 million on plowing and $ 5 million on snow removal
- $ 2.6 million on March 8th storm
Weenick said that in terms of city spending on snow removal, the city views snow plowing a public safety issue.
“We’re going to do our job on every storm, the ones that have passed and the ones that will come, because that’s an important service to the people of Boston,” she said. “We will accommodate whatever that requires within the means of our budget.”
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