City snow removal over budget by $163K

WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) - Public works directors from across the state say they were already above their snow removal budget before the March snow storm.

Many of the winter storms this season have arrived on the weekends, which means overtime. Officials say the rising cost of salt has also contributed to the depletion of the snow removal budget.

In Warwick Public Works Director David Picozzi says the town is in the red by $163,000 dollars so far this year.

Director Picozzi says he usually is able to give back the city the unused cash. But this year it was not the case. No matter the costs the city has found a way to pay employees for their work.

"Well you have to plow the streets. There is not much that you can do about it. The mayor was out in the storm riding with me today. He was going to contact the finance director and they were going to come up with ways to find the money,"
says Director Picozzi.

Some of the money saved from fuel costs helped to cover some of the costs.