The city government has increased its budget for clearing snow, as yet more precipitation heads New Haven’s way.
Another $300,000 will go toward overtime and subcontracting to deal with remaining snow removal for this season. Forecasters are calling for 2 – 3 inches of wet snow Tuesday evening, then up to 8 inches, and subfreezing temperatures, Wednesday night through Thursday.
The $300,000 is coming from a surplus in the public works department, from vacant salary line items, according to the city’s deputy chief administrative officer, Jennifer Pugh.
The city had budgeted $218,000 for staff overtime for snow and ice removal this year along with $300,000 for outside contracting and “material” (sand and salt).
To date it has already spent about $202,000 on overtime and $454,000 on the second account (about $174,000 on sand and salt, $280,000 on contracted plowing), Pugh said.
So the city found the new unused money to make up the difference, and hopes to stretch it through the remaining winter storms.
If winter starts cooperating.
