Planning for global warming? Recent snowfall challenging Chicago budget

The colder-than-usual November and December has brought snow to Chicago--but not that much overall--maybe six inches.

Is there enough money in the snow removal budget to last the year?

From the Chicago Tribune:

The snow sandwich that has forced Chicagoans to lean into their shovel handles and idle in slushy traffic jams with annoying frequency in recent weeks also has dug into the city’s winter street plowing budget.

Snow removal in November and December has cost $4.6 million, bringing the total for the year to $14.37 million, according to Streets and Sanitation Department officials. The city set aside $16.3 million for snow removal in 2013, leaving about $2 million to get through the rest of the month.

That money can get eaten up fast once the flakes start coming down: $1.06 million has been spent since Nov. 1 on overtime for plow drivers and other city workers responding to snowfalls and $736,000 has been spent on fuel and equipment. And the city used $3.5 million worth of salt and beet juice during that time to de-ice roads.

Last winter I worked in Chicago--and my car knew when it nad entered its city limits--when it snowed the streets instantly became more slippery and more dangerous.

Technorati tags: Chicago Illinois weather Illinois snow