Snow Removal Budgets Still In Good Shape, For Now

March 1, 2019 6:03 pm

By: Tim Studebaker

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A below average winter can mean a break for the state, as well as cities and towns. When it doesn’t snow, they don’t have to spend money on plowing. But, there have been other costs.

RIDOT Chief Engineer of Infrastructure Robert Rocchio says, “We’ve had some icing events in which we’ve had to salt the roads. I think this is our 15th or 16th winter event, whether it be icing or snow or sleet.”

So, where does the state stand as more winter weather arrives tonight?

Rocchio says, “We are doing okay. We’ve spent less than half of our $20,000,000 snow removal budget.”

With back to back storms on the way, that number is expected to change. They did not provide an estimate on how much they expect to spend.

Over in East Providence, they say their budget is in good shape as well, so far.

East Providence Director of Public Works Stephen Coutu says, “We’ve spent roughly just a little under 40 percent of our budget of $240,000.”

The city says they’re unique, because unlike the state and other cities and towns, everyone clearing the roads works for the city. They have no outside contractors.

Coutu says, “So, it’s an all hands on deck approach: all the DPW employees, whether they work in the parks division, highway division, water division. Most of our employees live in the city and they take great pride in what they do.”

Coutu says with two storms in the forecast, it would probably take yet another two before they hit their budget for the year. But, it is only March 1st, and snow is in the forecast. So, it remains to be seen how state and city budgets hold up.