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fter an icy winter in early 2007 and A: heap of snow projected for this eason, the city‘s snow removal program will likely overrun its budget, said Phil Hewitson, the director of public works services. After a frozen February saw trucks out on the roads more than anticipated, last week‘s heavy snowfall pushed this year‘s budget to the limit, he said. "We had a lot of ice to deal with early in the year on a regular basis and that really ate up a large part our budget," Hewitson said. "And because winter has come early this year we‘ll likely have an overrun. The two storms we‘ve had so far were pretty large," he added. The snow removal budget is based on fiveâ€"year weather and precipitation averâ€" ages, said Tim Anderson, general manger of public works. The last five years were warmer and drier than winters have typically been in the region, meaning the budget is tight for seasons like this year when winter looks like it did a decade ago. "It seems like we‘re back to normal," Anderson said. If the city needs more money for snow removal, they dip into a reserve fund which covers shortfalls and absorbs surâ€" pluses. There was very little poor winter weather in 2006, meaning the departâ€" ment didn‘t use its full budget and put it into the reserves, which should help cover this year, Anderson said. City‘s annual snow clearing budget already at its limits And if the weather continues like it has this season, the budget will slowly grow to accommodate it over the next few years, he said. "This year our actuals are going to be higher than the budget, but as we recalâ€" culate averages they should slowly increase," Anderson said. "If winters like this one are predicted our budget will be slowly increasing." Snowed over By Grec MacDonaLp Chronicle Staff Continued on page 5 Threeâ€"yearâ€"old Zoe Mann had enough of Christmas shopping last week at Conestoga Mall and takes a nap on dad Lee Wesley‘s shoulder. Mom Emily Mann continued the family‘s shopping while her toddler took a timeout. Waterioo stores are expected to be busy again today as annual Boxing Day sales start. wK BLIC ugnmw All shopped out 808 vRSANAC BHOTO Singing in the New Year/Page 16 Bringing a taste of N.Y. to Waterloo/Page 13 ARTS FOCUS Dr. Jodie Wang MD Lose Inches The Shape of Things to Come No pain, no down time. Booking now for January Waterloo teen plants some hopelPage 10 519.578.2828 UirRaASHAPE®