What Does an Inch of Snow Cost?

Living in Northwest Pennsylvania and dealing with that winter anomaly called “lake effect snow,” I often contemplated just what an inch of snow costs my municipality.

In this region, it isn’t uncommon to have snowstorms that drop feet – not inches – of snow. An ongoing joke in these parts is that when our neighbors consider closing the city down due to a few inches of snow, we laugh and say that in the northern hinterlands, we call that “frost.” So, when winter storms hit the commonwealth, local governments face the annual challenge of keeping their roads clear and safe. With rising fuel costs, staff overtime, and unpredictable weather patterns, the costs to municipalities can really add up.

So just how much does an inch of snow cost?

Understanding this figure can assist local officials in planning budgets, justifying expenses, and assessing the efficiency of their public works operations. Here’s how you can calculate it to obtain an accurate estimate. First, you’ll need to gather data for at least one entire winter season. The goal is to include all costs directly related to snow and ice removal, such as labor costs, including both regular and overtime pay for road crew members. Then, you’ll need to account for equipment expenses, like fuel, repairs, depreciation, and rental fees for plows, trucks, and salt spreaders. Next, identify your expenditures for salt, brine, sand, and anti-skid materials. If you contract out services, be sure to include costs paid to private contractors for additional routes. Finally, calculate your administrative costs for recordkeeping, dispatch, and management oversight during snow events.

One key factor, obviously, is the need to obtain accurate snowfall totals, usually measured in inches. These can be sourced from National Weather Service data or a local weather station in your area. After collecting all your expenses, add them all up to find the total seasonal snow removal cost. That might look something like this. 

Labor ($110,000) + Equipment ($40,000) + Materials ($35,000) + Contractors ($15,000) = $200,000 total cost

Let’s say your township received 40 inches of snow during that winter season. Erie should be so lucky! You can now calculate the cost per inch by dividing your total seasonal expense by the total inches of snowfall.

$200,000 ÷ 40 inches = $5,000 per inch of snow. This is your baseline cost per inch for your municipality.

Once you have the cost of an inch of snow for your municipality, you may decide to go further – calculating the cost of an inch of snow per lane mile of road, or the cost per snow event (to evaluate efficiency during small versus large storms), or the average cost per route or district (to pinpoint areas with higher operational costs). For example, if your municipality maintains 60 lane miles of roadway, based on the above calculation, you can use the following equation to determine cost per lane mile: $200,000 ÷ 40 inches ÷ 60 miles = $83.33 per inch per lane mile.

Once you determine the cost to your municipality for each inch of snow that falls, you can use it to enhance budget forecasts for upcoming winters, assess the efficiency of operations or contractors, justify funding requests to boards or residents, and support grant applications for winter maintenance or equipment upgrades. Monitoring this figure over multiple years also highlights trends, such as whether salt costs or overtime labor are increasing your expenses.

Calculating the average cost per inch of snow removal is more than just a math exercise; it’s a budgeting tool that helps Pennsylvania’s municipalities make data-driven decisions. By combining precise cost tracking with reliable snowfall data, local leaders can ensure they’re maintaining safe roads and responsible spending, even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. I recommend you to “fire this thing up” and get that calculator out, see what your total “frost” is costing your municipality. 

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About the Author

David L. Anthony is a member of the Keystone Municipal Solutions team of experts. He is a veteran of municipal government, having served more than 33 years in various positions of public service. Contact him at david@keystonemunicipalsolutions.com. To learn more about David and the Keystone Municipal Solutions team, click here.