Average Cost in Past 12 Years: $1.8 Million-Per Inch

Each inch of snow removal cost New York City an average of $1.8 million in the past 12 years, according to a new report from City Comptroller Scott Stringer.

The city spent $663.2 million clearing snow from fiscal 2003 through fiscal 2014, the report found.

Costs in general were greater in years with lighter snowfall because the city must prepare regardless of actual snowfall amounts. “It’s a lot more expensive on a per-inch basis when we get a little snow because we have startup costs and we have fixed costs. We have to have plows and salt,” Mr. Stringer said.

In fiscal 2003, the city saw 55.5 inches of snow and paid $740,000 per inch in cleanup costs; in fiscal 2012, the city had 6.8 inches of snow and paid $4.4 million per inch.

At a certain point, however, more snow also costs more per inch. Mr. Stringer said the “sweet spot” at which the city gets the best return on its snow-removal spending is between 24 and 56 inches per season.

The comptroller said preparation was also a factor because the city in the past has had to scramble to hire emergency contractors when caught off guard by a winter storm.

In short, the cost of snow removal for New York City is far from a straight line when plotted over time. The old adage of $1 million per year is also rarely true. While costs can dip that low and even lower in certain optimal years, from FY 2003 – FY 2014, the average cost‐per‐inch was $1.8 million.

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