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WEST JORDAN - All this winter weather has already used up at least one city's snow removal budget. West Jordan says the money they budgeted for snow removal... has already melted away, while other cities are about halfway through what they've budgeted.
It's one of those things that just comes with living in Utah, snow removal. Getting it off your driveway may not be a big deal, but when it comes to every street in the city that's when costs start to go up fast.
Melissa Johnson is the mayor of West Jordan a city that budgeted $160,000 for salt, blades, and other snow removal equipment based on the average of the past 5 years. That money is already gone even though the winter is not.
"It'll just be a matter of balancing our streets budget to still provide snow plow services for the people in the city," said Mayor Johnson.
Just over the Oquirrh Mountains from West Jordan is Tooele. The city has already spent about half its snow removal budget.
Mark Busico has been plowing Tooele streets for years and says no matter what, the money to plow will be there.
"I'm sure when it comes time," said Busico. "We'll find more money to take care of it. We've never gone short on snow removal."
During the last storm, when 7-inches of snow fell in Herriman the city spent close to $20,000 on snow removal.
"30 percent of our salt budget has been spent," said Herriman spokesperson Nicole Martin. "But again, we have plenty of season left, we have plenty of money left, so we feel like we are in good shape."
Trying to figure out how much money a city needs for snow removal is kind of a guessing game. Some years you're under, some years you're over, but no matter what, each city says if more snow comes, they will do everything they can to keep the roads clear.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com.
