WMDT 47 News - Delmarva's ChoiceBrown Winter Saves Taxpayers Green

SALISBURY, Md. - The recent mild winter weather might be disappointing for those who love snow, but city and county governments are not complaining.

Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton tells WMDT a mild winter means huge savings. The county has 750 tons of untouched salt. The city budgeted more than 38 thousand dollars for salt this year. So far, they've only used about 5 thousand of that, just to top off the pile. "We planned for that money now we don't have to use it, and we don't lose it," explains Mayor Ireton.

They also save on overtime. Back in 2010, the city spent close to 20 thousand dollars on overtime. Most years, they only spend about 7 thousand. But this year, they haven't spent a dime. "If we were a ski resort or a snow mobiling resort," adds Ireton, "we'd be crying into our down comforters, but we're not."

But this year Salisbury already spent 30 thousand dollars on overtime for Hurricane Irene. On the plus side, there's relief funds on the way that will reimburse those expenses.

There is one downside to all this warm winter weather. According to the mayor, crime typically drops when the temperatures drop.