Snow and Ice Budget Almost Spent

The Marlborough Department of Public Works will request additional funds for snow and ice removal this year, thanks to a snow- and ice-filled start to the winter.

Each budget year, the city provides $500,000 for snow and ice removal, including materials such as sand and salt. The three snow and ice events in January have nearly depleted that amount, said Tom Temple, assistant commissioner of operations.

The commissioner is drafting a new budget request and is expected to take that to the City Council this month. The city typically spends about $1.8 million a year for snow and ice removal.

Usually, the city gets most of its snowfall in January and February. 

The private contractors who are paid by the city to remove snow, to supplement city trucks, are now sending in invoices, Temple said, so the exact amount that has been spent so far is not yet available.