How Much Has This Winter Cost Tewksbury?

Question: Seems like we've had a lot of snowstorms this winter. How much has the town spent on snow and ice removal and salting and sanding? How bad will this impact the budget?

Answer: This has, indeed, been a nasty winter and the bill is steep.

According to Town Manager Richard Montuori, $241,000 was earmarked in the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget for snow and ice removal. Prior to Monday's storm, the town had spent $637,060 on snow and ice removal, creating a deficit of $399,110. According to Montuori, Monday's storm might add as much as $50,000 to that total.

Under normal circumstances, this would create budgetary problems, as the deficit would have to be paid for out of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. However, Montuori also set aside $600,000 in certified free cash this past fall to be used for any snow and ice removal deficit. So the town might even be able to pay for another storm, should winter not actually be over yet.