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Finance committee warned city will likely need free cash to cover snow-and-ice deficit
Summary
City finance staff reported the snow-and-ice account was running low and projected a need for a free cash appropriation after recent snow; the account had about $95,000 left when the communication was written and may now be in deficit following storms.
City finance staff told the Gardner Finance Committee on Jan. 15 that the snow-and-ice account was expected to need a free cash appropriation before the end of the fiscal year. The communication, dated Jan. 7, said the account had about $95,000 remaining from an original $300,000 appropriation when the message was written and that recent storms likely pushed the account into deficit.
Staff emphasized that the city has sufficient salt supplies and that the issue is budgetary — each trip to treat icy roads requires the same equipment, crews and costs as plowing. The communication said the municipality anticipates using free cash to cover the shortfall and that a future agenda item will include the formal request.
Committee members asked for clarity about how the city manages the seasonal risk; staff confirmed the account commonly requires supplementation in winter and that the communication is intended to avoid surprises when a free cash appropriation is presented later in the fiscal year.
Ending: No formal vote was taken; the committee received the communication and was alerted to a likely end-of-year appropriation request.
