WASHINGTON, Ill. – You have a big snowstorm, you’re going to have some big costs, from salt to overtime for your city staff to get it done.
So, how do you budget for that if you’re a city leader?
“We try to bulk buy with the county when we buy salt, which helps some of the expenses for the budget,” said Gary Manier, Mayor of Washington. “We budget a certain amount of overtime each year, and try to kind of guesstimate how many events we’re going to have.”
Manier tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” sometimes you end up over-budgeting for winter weather, sometimes you’re under. But, either way, municipalities can amend their budgets, with city council approval, if needed.
Manier says City Hall there is closed for another day Thursday, but that doesn’t mean employees get the day off.
“We’ll have people answering phones and doing bills and payrolls and things, but we’re trying to keep residents safe going in and out of buildings,” said Manier.
Manier says like everywhere else, his city’s snow removal crews have been working hard; and while most of the crews are veterans, he says there are a few new employees this year, thrown right into the fire, and doing well.
