'Reasonable' Surplus Expected From 2010 Snow Budget

Monday, January 17, 2011 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C. - While the total cost for snow removal services in the city over the course of 2010 is still being crunched, a surplus is expected.

The City's Manager of Fleet Operations, Mick Jones, says the final figure should be out this week or next. "We expect there to be a surplus, meaning we were under-budget by a reasonable amount."

Jones, who took over as supervisor in the fall, says "I know the last part of 2010 was quite easy, we didn't get the snow."

If the past two weeks are any indication of what lies ahead for 2011, it could be quite a different story this time next year. Jones admits the year is off to a tough start. The only time of the week when there is no scheduled snow removal is between 11pm Saturday night and 11pm Sunday...and this weekend's snowstorm forced the extra expense of overtime service yesterday.

The City maintains a snow removal reserve fund that is padded in years when services come in under-budget and to bolster the actual snow budget in years of heavy snow.

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Posted on Monday, January 17, 2011 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: BCRacer on January 17 2011 6:59 AM

what a crock....,maybe time to have people on rotating shifts, or on call, so the weekends are covered without overtime as well.

I was out and about yesterday, and never saw a plow or an indication of one until well after 10AM..

the only plowing I saw was on the bypass and this is done by highways not city

Posted by: mwk on January 17 2011 7:11 AM

That's what people don't get. This City is big for 70,000 people. There are a tonne of streets to clear. Sprawl.....

By the way, yesterday I did see snow crews working.

Posted by: gus on January 17 2011 7:49 AM

And we continue to approve single detached home subdivisions at every opportunity we get. Then we have people buying them and starting to complain about the level of taxation and the lack of services.

The planners and Council keep on feeding the wants of the population. There needs to be a way of charging for the costs up front as part of the purchase price. Perhaps Development Cost charges should reflect the future cost impact of such a building.

Posted by: Give more on January 17 2011 8:53 AM

Just a bit early to be predicting a surplus, isn't it? Oh, right. Their budget season ends Dec 31, doesn't it. So they DO carry a surplus over to a reserve fund. Someone's not going to be too happy with that little 'slip o' the lip'

Posted by: tractor on January 17 2011 8:57 AM

If the people wouldn`t keep complaining every time there is a dribble of snowballs (small) at the end of their driveway, or they are not first on the list for ploughing their street, then maybe it wouldn`t be such a big expense. I have found that I am much more productive when I don`t have someone looking over my shoulder. Just let them do their job, leave them alone and just maybe it might surprise us all.

Posted by: mythoughts on January 17 2011 9:07 AM

Well said tractor. I could care less if they clear the streets at all. My 4x4 truck handles just fine.

Posted by: mythoughts on January 17 2011 9:10 AM

Saves tax dollars too and I'd rather pay less than more to clear the streets because some people don't know how to drive in winter or don't have good high-end snow tires. A compact car with bald seasonal tires just isn't gonna cut it folks so quit complaining if you're not willing to spend the money to drive in these winter conditions. Why should I pay more taxes because you can't drive in the winter.

Posted by: highlanderpg on January 17 2011 9:46 AM

A surplus?? How do they get a surplus when 2 months ago they had no money for a snow budget and it was seriously low, I wonder when the predictions coming out of the city sway so drastically from one end of the spectrum to the other in so short a time. How about we wait until May then we make our assessments? We may be a little more plausible then.

Posted by: interceptor on January 17 2011 9:59 AM

Well at least people are not complaining about potholes...
:-)

Posted by: verballabel on January 17 2011 10:48 AM

oh and the potholes this winter!.... jk

Posted by: doogood on January 17 2011 11:37 AM

My 4x4 does just fine. Lived in the north for 20yrs now. I guess you could say i am used to the snow. I could care less if my street was plowed. Save the money from plowing my street and spend it on new asphalt or trails.