Mild winter eases pinch on budgets
Staff Writer
A mild winter has resulted in budget savings not just for area citizens, but the communities they call home.
Presque Isle’s Public Works Department — hit hard two years ago when rising fuel prices combined with above-average snowfall that required extra overtime as crews struggled to keep local roads and streets passable and forced the department to purchase more salt and sand — has been able to keep well within budget this season, thanks to the lack of precipitation
“We’re doing pretty good, when it doesn’t snow. Overtime and fuel use are both down,” said Gerry James, Public Works director.
James said while gallons of fuel used are down, the prices are still up a bit, so the fuel portion of the budget is about even at this point. Salt and sand use are also about average.
“Salt and sand use for February was about normal. The wet, heavy snow that froze up and packed up, we had to go salt it. It’s the type of snow that’s treacherous,” said James.
James said the milder winter prevented the need to have crews out at all hours, keeping much of the work within crews’ regularly-scheduled work week and thus keeping overtime down. Warmer temperatures also meant less maintenance.
“When it comes to equipment repair, when you’re not turning wheels, you’re not breaking down. It all adds up at the end of the year,” James said.
Martin Puckett, town manager of Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman, said the three communities he manages have seen weather-related savings also.
“We haven’t spent nearly as much in our employee costs — had nearly no overtime this winter,” said Puckett.
Like Presque Isle, Puckett said the three towns have seen a cost savings as a result of fewer storms creating the need to plow.
“We’ve used less salt, sand and diesel,” said Puckett.
He said his communities have also seen a reduction in maintenance this season.
“We’ve had less wear and tear on equipment,” Puckett said.
While the savings are good news for this year’s municipal budgets, James said the overall savings will be minimal, in the long run.
“When you look at the three- to five-year averages, it all evens out,” said James. “We were considerably over two years ago because of the record snowfall; this year we’ll save a bit.”
