Storms Strain City Snow Budgets

Back-to-back snowstorms have meant back-to-back work for the New Haven Department of Public Works and outside contractors.

“It takes a lot of manpower to clean these streets and so our overtime, as well as our consulting businesses that we use to help clear the streets, we're running a little over in those line items,” explained New Haven Mayor Toni Harp.

That means New Haven's snow budget is close to running out.

“We're really getting close to spending most of the snow budget, and we're looking into other accounts within the Department of Public Works to fill that account,” said Harp.

Harp said the city has an obligation to clean up the snow, whether it's during a snow storm or in the days after it.

West Haven Mayor Ed O'Brien said the city has enough money left for one more big snow storm, before it will have to tap into other accounts.

“At this point, we're being very watchful of our snow budget, but we're at about two-thirds of our budget. The numbers are still coming in, but I think, right now, we're holding our own,” said O’Brien.

He says the timing of the past storms is really what costs the most, because a lot of money has gone to overtime.

“It's more these storms hit on Sundays and on the weekend, and so it's more expensive to send the guys out,” said O’Brien.

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