Snow and Ice Budget Exceeded, Again

Welcome to You Ask... Patch Answers where we answer readers questions. We recently received questions about the snow and ice budget, and how much the town has spent so far. Here's your answer.

This year, the town's snow and ice budget was $175,000. However, the town has spent $514,751.10, according to DPW Director Richard Carnevale.

The blizzard of '13 cost the town $172,063.83, however, the original budget of $175,000 was gone before the storm even hit North Reading. 

The DPW was able to get authorization from the selectmen to spend more before the blizzard. The department has to be prudent with tax payers money, but the weather dictates how much they have to spend, Carnavale explained. 

According to Carnevale, the snow and ice budget was spent on overtime; contractors; buying sand and salt, which is up to a high of $44 per ton; parts for snow plows and other vehicles and more.

The DPW plowed through their snow and ice budget last year as well. 

What do you think about this? Should the town have budgeted more for snow and ice originally? The roads need to be cleared, sanded and salted after storms. How should the town handle situations like these? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.