Wanna play king of the hill?
"Heaps of trouble; Snowstorms are straining finances across state" by Peter Schworm and Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff / January 27, 2011
Scarcely a month into the season, many communities across the region have exhausted their snow and ice removal budgets and are diverting large sums from other municipal funds....
Some towns said they are paying $15,000 for every inch of snow that must be cleared, and more to dispose of the enormous snow piles that are choking streets and walkways. And with snow this winter often coming at night and on weekends, there has been overtime to pay.
So as winter-weary residents groaned at the arrival of yet an other storm yesterday, municipal leaders braced for another blow to the bottom line....
Related: Despite fiscal ills, towns are saving up
Then they should be able to absorb it, huh?
The storm was expected to dump between 7 and 11 inches of snow in the Boston area overnight before tapering off this morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Communities are allowed to exceed snow removal budgets to keep roads and sidewalks clear, and many budgeted conservatively in hopes of a light winter.
And because the GLOBAL-WARMING GARBAGE from the newspaper and carbon-tax cult keeps telling them mild winter.
But eventually, towns will have to make up the difference, either by tapping reserves or next year’s budget....
Get out that wallet, taxpayers.
In Manchester-by-the-Sea, where frequent storms have drained the snow budget, town officials have scaled back on overnight snow removal and sidewalk plowing to save money. Facing a potential tax override, the town needs to trim costs where it can, even if there is grumbling over the results.
“We are trying to lower people’s expectations,’’ said Wayne Melville, the town administrator. “We need to find a sweet spot where we aren’t burning money.’’
I'll bet his health bills are being paid and he's still drawing a salary and pension.
Ain't fascism grand?
Adding to the headaches, many communities say they are running out of places to put all the snow and face the expensive prospect of bringing in heavy equipment to remove it altogether.
“We’re basically stuffing it in every crevice we can find,’’ said Isensee, the Lawrence public works head. “Hauling it away, that’s a very pricey proposition for us.’’
But residents say the tall snowbanks are an increasing hazard, blocking drivers’ views and forcing pedestrians to walk in the road. In Boston, the piles have turned curbside parking into an alpine adventure....
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Related: Winter still a wonder for meteorologists
Shops try to lure customers amid snow
