Braintree Spent Nearly $900,000 on Snow Removal This Winter

During a winter marked by the Blizzard of 2013 and several other smaller storms, Braintree spent more than $850,000 on snow and ice removal – about half a million dollars over budget.

Mayor Joseph Sullivan said during his fiscal year 2014 budget presentation last week that the town had spent $857,000 so far on those costs, with more calculations still to be made. Braintree budgeted $350,000 this year for snow and ice.

The final number could be about $25,000 more, Chief of Staff and Operation Peter Morin said, as remaining fuel charges are calculated.

Though cities and towns are allowed to roll-over snow debt for up to three years, Braintree has regularly paid off the balance with reserves each year. Last year, the town spent just under its $300,000 allotment.

The budget for 2014 will be $400,000.

"No one can predict the snow, but it is a solid placeholder for us," Sullivan said.

Snow budgets are unique among municipal finances in that they are an area in which towns are allowed to regularly go beyond planned spending because of the uncertainty of weather. That, combined with a state law that says a town may not budget less for snow than it did the year before, means that base budgets are typically set lower than expenses.

During the 2010-2011 season, Braintree went $1 million over budget when storm after storm slammed Massachusetts.