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By Nick Liard

The statistics are in and the recent harsh winter has put the city way over budget for infrastructure needs.

General Manager of Infrastructure, Tony Cecutti, says this was the worst winter in terms of costs and frozen water services in 20 years.

The city is expecting more costs for the remainder of the year, but Cecutti says that shouldn’t exceed Capital Reserves.

As of March, the city is $2.8-million over budget.

The annual budget for frozen water services is $38,000, but the city has spent $1.1-million this winter.

Cecutti says work crews had to do an extensive amount of excavations.

The cost to excavate is significantly more than other measures to get hot water going again on properties.

Water main breaks cost $1.8-million, however the yearly budget for these is $1.5-million.

Cecutti says the impact from the winter caused extensive damage to city infrastructure systems, but the full extent of damages have not yet been realized.