Stoneham just can't weather anymore of it
Published on March 5th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - With the clean-up costs associated with last weekend's wintery weather still unknown, the town has racked-up a $200,000 deficit in its snow and ice accounts this year.
And according to Town Administrator David Ragucci, while he can't predict whether winter will continue to stubbornly resist the approaching spring season, Stoneham can bank on the fact that the budget hole is only going to worsen.
"As of this past Friday, the snow and ice account is now at a deficit of $200,000," Ragucci said on Tuesday. "Hopefully, we're through the worst part of it with this weekend."
"We did experience [a storm] this weekend and we had to through a lot of materials out there," cautioned the Town Administrator, who stressed that the most recent snow clearing costs for hadn't yet been calculated. "So $200,000 is the least of our problems."
In response to the news, Selectman John DePinto pointed out that local municipalities are allowed to run a deficit in snow and ice accounts, as New England weather is so unpredictable.
However, Stoneham will have to balance its books by this May's Town Meeting, when a traditional warrant article is introduced that seeks to amend the FY'08 budget approved last spring.
According to Ragucci, he has already taken action to ensure that departments reign-in non-essential expenditures for the last four months of the fiscal year.
In addition, the Town Administrator has opted not to fill a public works position that opened-up earlier this winter. By keeping the post vacant until July 1, when the 2009 fiscal year commences, the town will save approximately half of the job's budgeted salary.
Worried about the size of the budget hole, Selectman George Seibold later questioned whether the town had adequately planned for next winter.
Ragucci has proposed that the town level-fund its snow and ice accounts in FY'09, with $190,000 budgeted for snow removal.
In an interview last December, Public Works Director Bob Grover pointed out that Stoneham has level funded it's snow and ice accounts for the past decade, despite the fact that clean-up and material expenditures have risen.
In particular, according to Grover and Ragucci, salt prices have soared this year, as well as the price of gasoline.
According to the Town Administrator, because Stoneham has so many hills, even a small storm event can carry a heavy price-tag, especially when precipitation turns into rain, which then freezes.
According to town records, public works crews responded to six snow storms last year, which dropped a total of 49 inches of snow and other wintery precipitation onto the town's sidewalks, roadways, and municipal lots.
Two of those snow events dumped over a foot of snow in the area, according to public works figures.
So far this year, town officials and clean-up crews have dealt with about 50 inches of winter precipitation.
Admitting that the accounts have been underfunded, the Town Administrator pointed out that Stoneham actually had a $90,000 surplus in the snow and ice accounts last year.
"We only budgeted $190,000 next year for that," Ragucci confirmed. "You've level funded that [account] for the last eight to 10 years. But it's a crapshoot. Last year, you had a surplus in that account and now you're in the hole."
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!