Snow removal forecast

WASHINGTON — Despite the snowstorm two weeks ago, northeast Dutchess County towns are still within their 2010 budgets for snow removal. Highway department overtime, salt, sand and equipment maintenance are included in these budget estimates. With 10 years of budgeting experience, Pine Plains Supervisor Gregg Pulver said the average cost year to year doesn’t really depend on the amount of snow that falls.  

“We’re still within our budgeted amount and in March the sun starts working for us,� he said.

Predicting how much it will cost to remove snow is a big budget item for towns.  For example, the town of Washington spends more than 8 percent of its total town appropriations on removing snow from 64 miles of paved and dirt roads. The cost of more than $4,000 per mile is high because about half of the town’s roads are unpaved and require special attention.

In 2010, Pine Plains is holding its budget for snow removal from its 39 miles of town road steady compared to 2009, despite cost increases in sand and salt. Pulver commented that by using less sand and salt on flat roads, the town has managed to save the cost of three truckloads per storm, and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

Although it has reduced its budget for snow removal in 2010 compared to the previous year, the town of North East is not expecting less snow to fall on its 39 miles of road; the budget reflects the actual costs incurred in 2009, which many are hoping will be repeated in 2010. Supervisor Dave Sherman said that North East was lucky during the last storm, and that the snow removal budget remains adequate.