Winter Forces City To Shovel Out The Cash

By: Nick Liard

It was a tough season for the winter maintenance budget as snowfall mixed with freezing rain put the city over budget.

Roads Director, David Shelsted says all of 2016 and first two months of 2017 pushed the deficit to 2.9 million dollars.

The city is able to take from reserve funds that are built up when there is a Winter with less than average snow fall.

With the above average snowfall, Ward 11 Councillor Lynne Reynolds commanded crews for their work.

City staff say gaps in snowfall events this Winter allowed them to get ahead on work.

Staff also say that over the last five years, three have forced them to take from reserves, while two have allowed them to put money back in.