Warm, dry winter money in the bank for Edmonton
Edmonton's unseasonably warm, dry winter is putting a spring in people's step and extra change in the city's pockets.
"People like it when it's unseasonably warm so it's just great for the spirit of the city," said city councillor Michael Oshry. "Practically, though, it saves us a great deal of money with snow removal."
Oshry said each major snow storm costs the city about $3 million. He said the city budgeted for three or four more storms this winter than we've seen, leaving about $10 million in the bank.
"It's going to allow us either to do something with the tax rate or pay for the programs we unfortunately couldn't afford to do in the last budget," Oshry said.
The city's 2015 operating budget totalled $2.3 billion, while resulting in a 2.1 per cent property tax increase for the typical single-family home owner.
Oshry acknowledges the weather is hard on city festivals such as the Birkebeiner or Silver Skate, but says most Edmontonians are happy with the spring-like conditions.
