City Taps Out $17.8 Million Budget for Snow Removal

Before the most recent storm had even started, Boston had overspent its $17.8 million snow removal budget, with costs so far coming in at $18.1 million.

But that doesn't mean the city will be unable to 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."

The $18.1 million spent so far this winter roughly breaks down as follows:

• $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 the March 8 storm

Weenick said in terms of city spending on snow removal the city views snow plowing as 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."