LEWISTON — Ahhh, winter may be coming to an end, but the red ink from snow removal is showing up like mud in March.
Lewiston School Superintendent Bill Webster tweeted a photo of snow being removed from the roof of the Lewiston Regional Technical Center last month. The pile nearly reached the roof.
Webster tweeted that while reviewing the budget this week, “we have spent $134,000 on snow removal, including roofs, so far.” The snow removal budget for the entire winter was $109,000.
Ouch.
The Auburn School Department also had high snow removal bills: $4,500 for heavy equipment, plus $25,000 to hire private contractors to get snow off school roofs. It raised havoc with budgets, Business Manager Jude Cyr said, but it was critical to ensure safe schools.
And, staff overtime for snow removal meant Auburn schools exceeded last year’s total overtime by $2,000, with 3½ months of school left.
Ouch.
And more snow is predicted for this weekend. Oh yay.
That’s a sarcastic “yay,” from Penny of the TV comedy show “The Big Bang Theory.”
— Bonnie Washuk
Votes in for Farwell whoopie pie: Marble Madness
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story