Snow and Ice: How Much Does Westborough Spend?

WESTBOROUGH, MA - If we are slammed like last winter, many towns and cities would be forced to dip into deficit spending or other sources of funding.

But it’s Mother Nature, and no one truly knows.

Westborough’s budget for snow and ice for the FY2015-2016 period is $554,211. The figure of just over a half-million mirrors last year’s budget.

“It is always difficult to predict what Mother Nature has in store for us,” said Maria-Elaina Riggieri, business administrator for Westborough DPW. “If I overspend on the snow and ice budget I am allowed to deficit spend. These funds come from reserve funds that the town has set aside for unforeseen expenditures.”

The snow and ice budget is broken into multiple line items, each with a specific appropriation. Sand marks $25,205 of the budget; salt: $144,726; and contractual services (plow drivers) $83,266.00.