Regina snow removal budget $1.2 M under budget

The lack of snow this winter is saving the City of Regina money.

The relatively mild fall, coupled with the small amount of snowfall at the end of 2015, has left the winter maintenance books with extra.

“We are probably going to be about $1.1 million to $1.2 million under budget,” explained Chris Warren, manager of winter road maintenance. “$7.7 million is kind of what we are projecting to spend in 2015 so we’ve definitely saved a little bit of money on that end.”

As required by the city bylaw, that surplus will go into the winter maintenance reserve, an extra account to increase the annual budget in years when snowfall amounts are on the high end, like in 2013.

A small amount of snow has fallen this past couple of days and crews have been out clearing the major streets.

That work continues as attention now turns to sanding the roads as the temperatures fall.