Snow, ice strain on budget

CORNWALL - A proposed 2008-09 town budget will be presented to the Board of Finance Thursday, Feb. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Cornwall Consolidated School.

On Feb. 19 the Board of Selectmen finalized the plan, which includes an overall increase of about 3 percent.

At the same time, the selectmen will be asking for significant transfers into the current budget for unanticipated expenses related to winter storms. Right now, more than $30,000 in additional funding is needed.

"Last winter was tough, and at this same point last year we had dealt with 15 snowstorms and seven ice storms, First Selectman Gordon Ridgway said. "This year, so far, we have had 16 snowstorms and 16 ice situations. Ice requires about twice as much material, more than a foot of snow would. It takes a lot more sand and fuel, and those are the things that have gone up a lot."

Currently, the line item for fuel, budgeted for $26,000 through the end of June, is overspent by more than $3,000. The snow removal line item was budgeted at $55,000. Last winter'\s expenses amounted to $53,242. Currently, expenses for that account are close to $89,000.

And Ridgway warned that we have not seen the end of winter.

Another unplanned expense that needs to be considered in this fiscal year: repairs to the school roof, and a remedy for flooding around portions of the exterior.

Melting snow and ice, as well as lots of rain found its way into the main office area, causing numerous leaks. As is often the case with schools that have been expanded, the roofs became a conglomeration of strange angles and junctures, a situation ripe for leaks.

Ridgway said the roof that is leaking is very odd in that its pitched partway up before becoming flat across the top.

"We may have to appropriate some funds from this budget," he said. "This is going to continue to be a problem."