A push by Coun. Angela Caputo for new equipment stopping driveways being snowed in appears to have a snowball’s chance of being considered until multi-million-dollar winter cost overruns are addressed

If Saultites want to continue with current levels of winter control management, it’s going to cost truckloads of additional tax dollars, city councillors will be told this week.

Susan Hamilton Beach, the city’s deputy chief administrative officer for public works and engineering, will warn at a council meeting on Tuesday that she’ll be needing $945,617 more in 2026 to maintain the usual services of street plowing, snow removal, snow ditching/draining, sanding, salting, sidewalk maintenance, sweeping and patching winter potholes.

And that’s on top of an estimated deficit of $2.1 million expected for this year’s winter control, Hamilton Beach says in a report prepared for Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and councillors.

Her report is a response to a council initiative spearheaded earlier this year by Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo, calling for improvements including “real-time tracking of equipment, plow guards that protect driveways from being snowed in, and windrow clearing extensions that follow plows to clear snow and ice chunks left at the mouths of residents’ driveways.”

If the response from city staff is any indication, such additions appear to have a snowball’s chance of being approved until councillors first figure out how to address the multi-million-dollar winter cost overruns.

“While the background and finances discussed up until this point are essential for maintaining the existing level of service, staff are aware of council’s resolution to consider and price enhancements to the winter control program,” Hamilton Beach says.

“Until the current level of service is adequately budgeted, it is recommended that enhancements be considered at a later date. Staff will return to council in the future with this report and estimated enhancements.”

According to Hamilton Beach: “Examining the past five years of budget versus actual expenditures reveals a deficit of approximately $916,000 per year. This includes the years 2021 through 2025.”

“From 2020 to 2025, deficits have existed every year, with the range being approximately $48,000 to the estimated $2.1 million in 2025.”

One factor in those budget shortfalls has been unusually harsh weather over the last four winter seasons.

During the winter of 2024-2025, for example, Sault Ste. Marie received 482 centimetres of snow, well over the recent annual average of 320 centimetres.

To put an end to annual deficits, Hamilton Beach wants to use a five-year average expenditure to set a more appropriate annual budget for winter control.

“This will enable a sustainable budget approach for the [city], ensuring that extreme winter seasons do not result in a burden on taxpayers, while allowing surplus years (generally those with milder, less severe conditions) to fund the reserve,” she says.

So her preliminary budget for 2026 calls for $945,617 in additional expenditures including:


a $445,200 increase to maintain services (operating supplies, hired equipment, etc.)
$205,417 for increases for inflation, contractual obligations, revenue adjustment due to loss of Ontario Ministry of Transportation service provision, and general salary and benefits adjustment
$295,000 for a fleet adjustment due to higher repair parts, fuel allowance decrease and capital increase

“Staff are recommending a phased-in allocation over two years, to allow for a confident trend analysis by monitoring the influence of the newer equipment on maintenance items,” Hamilton Beach says.

She suggests the five-year average financials be reviewed annually, and overages transferred to a winter control reserve be reported to city council regularly.

Sault Ste. Marie’s city council meetings usually happen on Mondays, but this week’s meeting will be on Tuesday to accommodate the Thanksgiving holiday.

It will be live-streamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m.