Snow Spending Tops $1.2 Million for the Year

The city has spent $1.21 million on clearing snow and prepping roads this year.

“We were doing fairly well up until this blizzard hit," said Marlborough's General Foreman of Streets Kenneth Calder. "That blizzard was all on the weekend, which meant a lot of overtime."

The funds represent spending for the entire year, he said. Discarding last year's snow spending — where no major snow storms were seen in the area — the average for the last four years is $1.8 million for snow clearing.

“We should be right on track for the four previous year average," said Calder.

The upcoming weekend storm will cost the city more, due to it coming on a weekend, but the final cost depends on the duration of the storm. If the snow falls quickly then the DPW can clear it and prepare the roads in less time, said Calder.

Receive breaking news in your inbox or on your smartphone by signing up for our newsletter here.

“If it’s a quick hitting storm it cert helps us in keeping the cost down,” he said.

The city allocates $500,000 a year to snow clearance and has been doing so for the last 20 or 30 years, said Calder. The mayor will address the City Council Monday about deficit spending for snow clearance, which is allowed under state law.