While all that snow may finally be melting away the financial blow it dealt to the city’s pocketbook isn’t going anywhere soon.
An estimated $3.7-million in budget overspending is being projected with much of that coming from overtime and equipment rentals.
Mayor Mel Norton tells us they had to consciously make the decision to overspend the budget in this case because of health and safety issues. He says they’re hopeful that this is “a once in a many, many decade event.”
Because of all the snow making streets narrower and narrower, a local state of emergency went into effect in February which led to a seven day round-the-clock parking ban.
The city is preparing to apply to the province to try and recover some money from the state of emergency. Norton says they’ve met with Ministers Rick Doucet and Ed Doherty and spoke specifically about the application for funding.
When both the overspending and underspending is taken into account, the budget is expected to be over by approximately $3.5-million.
