The issue was the subject of considerable debate in city council, as the members approved new snow removal contracts earlier this month.

According to Councillor Mitchell Brownstein, the commissioner for public works, the cost for the latest snow removal contracts jumped 14 per cent, "the reason being last year's snow removal season and all the contractors are bidding high numbers."

"I want to sensitize our residents to the fact of how much snow removal costs are increasing this year," said Mayor Anthony Housefather. "We're going to have difficult choices to make in the coming months when it comes to next year's budget if we want to maintain services at the same levels or improved levels for next year.

"People need to understand the costs year to year don't just go up the rate of inflation or less," he added. "The costs year to year are going up in some areas over 20 per cent. So it's a very difficult chore for council to manage if residents are telling us we want to pay a zero some tax increase and we want you to increase or keep the same services, but the costs go up by over 20 per cent."

Last winter marked the first year that snow accumulation in Côte St. Luc exceeded 239 centimeters since 2001. The lowest snowfall, 153 centimeters, fell in 2004. Snow removal contractors working for Côte St. Luc are paid based in large part on the amount of snowfall.

The city stands to pay a lower rate if 160 centimeters or less of snow accumulates. Any additional snow will mean a rate increase of 85 per cent per centimeter, "which is huge," admitted Housefather. "So we really have to pray for a low snowfall this year."

Last year, when Montreal suffered through its most harrowing winter in decades, Côte St. Luc had 371 centimeters of snow. However, the city is basing its projection for this winter on an anticipated 239 centimeters of snow.

"If we're going to have this price per additional centimeter and we get some type of a winter like last year, we're really going to have a serious thing to consider with respect to budget," Brownstein said. "If we go to 371 centimeters, it's going to average out to something a lot higher."