City blows past snow budget

The city’s snow and ice control program is reporting more than $3 million in cost overruns, according to a year-end summary report.

The 2011 expenditures totalled $38.06 million from a $34.7-million budget.

The cost overrun is “largely attributed to the above average snow accumulations experienced during the first few months of the year,” according to the report.

One-third of the city’s 9,597 service requests came in January 2011, according to the report. Additionally, snowfall was up 30 per cent when compared to the eight-year average measured from January to May.

“It indicates we have underfunded our snow removal budget for many, many years,” said Ald. Diane Colley-urquhart, who chaired a subcommittee on snow and ice removal.

“What we’ve done in the past is keep dipping into the reserves to fund snow removal.”

However, according to the year-end report, citizen satisfaction results indicate 75 per cent of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with snow control.

“Calgarians have told us loud and clear they want their tax dollars going to removing the snow,” said ColleyUrquhart.