Snow Removal Costs Drain Municipal Budgets Across Southern New England

A prolonged, precipitous New England winter is driving up snow removal costs and straining budgets across Southern New England cities and towns.

Leaders of municipalities across the region said that the harsh winter is placing unusual financial strain on municipal services, with costs rising for salt, sand, snow hauling, and contractor labor. Officials warn that ongoing winter weather conditions are widening budget gaps, forcing cities to reallocate funds or rely on overtime and reserves to cover snow and storm-related cleanup costs.

In Warwick, Rhode Island, the Department of Public Works faces a tight snow-removal budget. It expects overtime costs to extend beyond the winter for future cleanup and possible flood or hurricane response. While Warwick has a respectable fleet of trucks and labor to help with sidewalk and road snow removal, the city still has limited snow-removal resources and equipment.

Ocean State Media reported that Providence has already spent approximately $787,000 on snow cleanup since the recent storms, according to city spokesperson Josh Estrella. Additional outstanding expenses are expected for overnight snow hauling and departmental cleanup. Total storm-response spending for the last fiscal year was just under $2.4 million.

Statewide in Rhode Island, approximately $9.1 million was spent on salt (117,000 tons) through the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, according to a spokesperson, up from $7.3 million spent the previous winter.

Ocean State Media reported that New Bedford, Massachusetts, is already facing a $266,000 shortfall in its snow-removal budget this year. Total storm-related costs are approximately $566,000 on a $300,000 budget. Last year's budget of $450,000 was fully spent, according to Jonathan Darling, a spokesperson for New Bedford Mayor John Mitchell.

“We'll have to figure out how to close this year's budget gap between now and the end of the fiscal year,” Darling added.