Regina hits cap on reserve fund for snow removal savings

The City of Regina may have to figure out what to do with a big chunk of money at the end of the year.

The winter was very mild and dry, and as a result, the city hasn’t had to do much winter maintenance. Since Jan. 1, the city has spent a little less than $2 million on snow removal. The five-year average is about $5 million.

“It looks like we’re on par to be saving at least about $3 million, should we experience an average winter season moving into October, November, December of this year,” said Chris Warren, the manager of winter maintenance with the City of Regina.

Warren explained the majority of the money was spent on ice control and sidewalk clearing.

The clearing of category 1 and 2 streets after the storm in mid-March cost the city about $100,000, according to Warren.

The winter maintenance budget is set up for the calendar year instead of around the season, so the current budget includes the beginning of next winter.

The surplus would normally be put into the winter maintenance reserve, but it already has about $3.9 million, which is the most the reserve can have under a city bylaw. All the money that is above that cap will have to be put somewhere else – something the city’s finance department will have to figure out.

At the beginning of April, the city converts its winter equipment over to spring and summer activities, so crews are now working on summer projects.

Street sweeping started this week.