BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Northeast Wisconsin has seen plenty of winter weather this season.
They’ve left communities continually shoveling up the snow causing an expensive cleanup.
Brown County Public Works is one department adjusting to make up for this year’s winter storms and the effect weather has had on its budget.
Director Paul Fontecchio tells FOX 11 this winter has for sure been on the more expensive side.
“We have a half-million dollars today. So anything now that we have through the rest of February and into March, and God forbid April that’ll chew into our summer reserve.”
That $500,000 is supposed to last through December.
Between resources like equipment and crews working overtime, the costs add up quickly
“We’re using salt — that’s materials — we have equipment charges and then there’s labor. All of that hit our bottom line,” Fontecchio explained. “It’s going to be hundreds of thousands for sure”
More money spent on winter could mean less money for summer projects such as fixing potholes.
Fontecchio says Public Works has a backup plan.
“So we typically try to maintain about a $1 million fund balance. That million-dollar fund balance is there in case we have to draw from it during a bigger winter like this.”
It’s a big winter that Fontecchio is prepared for.
“We gotta keep people getting to work, and keeping the roads clean. It’s what we do.”
To offer more context, Fontecchio says last year’s big April blizzard alone cost the department about $683,000.
