The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service isn't the only local agency with an overspending problem this year.
City councillors will learn Monday that their public works department has been shovelling truckloads of cash trying to cope with a large number of significant weather events this past winter.
"Winter control activities are overspent for the first quarter of the year," said Steve Facey, the city's manager of finance.
"Based on the number of winter events and snow accumulation, staff anticipate a deficit of approximately $1.4 million, predominantly related to snow removal for 2025," Facey said in a report prepared for Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and councillors.
"Should winter conditions remain the same for the year's final two months, this overspending can be expected to remain and contribute to the year-end position.
"Historically, the corporation has been able to negate the impacts of harsher winters. Staff will report back to council with second-quarter data to clarify where the organization stands."
Facey's remarks are made in a first-quarter financial report to council.
The report also references a $1.9-million deficit anticipated in 2025 by Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board.
City staff are monitoring mitigation efforts launched by the police and promise to provide further updates to city council as information becomes available.
The information to be presented to council on Monday is preliminary and reflects only expenditures and revenues from January to March, Facey says.
"As additional information becomes available, staff will fine-tune the estimates for year-end. Part of the city’s year-end processes include balancing whether the city is in a surplus or deficit position," he added.
"Staff may return to city council in the future seeking direction to commit amounts from reserves, such as the winter control and contingency reserves, to ensure the deficit is funded, if applicable."