Feb 7, 2008 9:25 pm US/Central
City Running Out Of Funds For Snow Removal
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Unlike many suburbs, Chicago still has 200,000 tons of salt to drop on snow and ice-covered streets. But, there's a problem. City Hall is running out of money.
From Jan. 1 to Feb. 4, the city's Department of Streets and Sanitation had spent $14.1 million of an $18.5 million snow removal budget that's supposed to last all year.
The spending includes $4 million for labor and overtime; $3 million for fuel and vehicle maintenance and $7 million for salt.
When the cost of this week's major storm is factored in, the snow removal coffers are likely to be empty. Last year, the city spent $33.2 million on snow removal during a winter nowhere near as brutal as this one has been.
"Chicago is not alone. With about two months of winter remaining, many cities across the nation are rapidly depleting or have already exhausted their snow removal budgets," said Wendy Abrams, a spokesperson for the city's Office of Budget and Management.
The mayor's 2008 budget was precariously balanced with $276.5 million in taxes, fines and fees, including the largest property tax increase in Chicago history.
What happens if the snow removal budget runs dry?
"The city doesn't budget for emergencies, nor does it have a rainy day fund. Throughout the year, we are constantly monitoring and managing city spending," Abrams said.
She added, "The budget is a road map for city spending that is often adjusted based on factors outside the city's control -- in this case, weather. The snow conditions we've seen so far this winter have presented major public safety concerns and have to be addressed as we did to ensure safe travel on main routes and side streets."
The January storms dumped nearly 37 inches of snow on Chicago. When this week's storm is factored in, the city will be nearly 14 inches or 62 percent above its normal snowfall totals for the same period. It will likely be the city's fourth-snowiest winter on record, Abrams said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments