With Snow Removal Budget Depleted, Selectmen Approve Increase

If you haven't noticed, it has snowed a lot this winter. And the season isn't even halfway over.

In fact, the winter season has been so active that Natick's snow and ice removal expenses have already surpassed the FY14 budget of $150,000.

During the Jan. 6 Board of Selectmen meeting, Interim DPW Director Tom Collins asked the Board for authorization of an additional $600,000.00 to cover the cost of snow and ice removal operations in the next few weeks.

"We’ve had 13 snow events, and we're not halfway through the winter," Collins said. "It’s the nature of the business. You have good years and bad years, and it looks like this will be a long winter."

As of Jan. 6, overall costs of snow and ice removal stood at $323,440.80, leaving the town with a deficit of $173,440.80.

According to WHDH, no snow is in the forecast through Monday, giving Natick's DPW crews a breather.

"You’ve done a good job, and the reverse 911 system works well," Selectman Rick Jennett said. "Keep up the good work."

The increase was unanimously approved.