How much public works? It’s predictable that there’s snow, so you have equipment. Sometimes there’s more do you prepare for more. But it’s expensive equipment that needs to be purchased, maintained, stored and operated. Most of that expense is year round but you see benefits only a few times per year. Do you invest enough money year round to cover a once a year storm? A once every ten years storm? What about a 100 year storm? We have had those recently but that’s a lot of equipment

Meanwhile these shovelers aren’t on payroll most of the year, have no special equipment, don’t need maintenance, etc. I d expect they’d quickly become cheaper