Windsor cuts winter snow removal budget

As Windsorites dug out of the latest snowstorm, city council voted to spend less on winter maintenance. CTV Windsor’s Michelle Maluske explains.

Windsor City council has approved spending $5.3 million for 2026 for snow removal.

This comes after having under budgeted in four of the last five years:

Budgeted Actual

• 2021 $5.1M $5.2M
• 2022 $5.5M $5.8M
• 2023 $6.0M $5.8M
• 2024 $5.6M $5.8M
• 2025 $5.7M $6.1M

“Like any other municipality we have heavy years, we have lighter years,” David Simpson, Windsor’s commissioner of infrastructure services told council at Monday’s budget debate. “The intent here was to try to normalize the process to some degree.”

Simpson says there was a small surplus for 2025, based on the previous five years, but its likely “eroded” because of a wintry December in Windsor.

City leaders note even if they go over budget, they must clear snow from city streets and will dip into reserves if necessary to pay for it.

A full rollout – clearing main routes and going into residential streets – costs the city $600,000 over 24 hours, on average, according to the city’s snow removal website.

Residents are reminded, plows will go into residential streets only if there is 10 centimeters or four inches of accumulation, and all main routes are clear.