Snowstorms Cost Mass. More Than $100 Million So Far
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts has spent more than $100 million on snowstorms this season, exhausting the state's $43 million budget for snow and ice removal for the current fiscal year.
The state has spent $74 million to clean up after the more than a dozen snowstorms since January 1, exceeding $31 million set aside for this year.
Transportation department spokesman Michael Verseckes said the agency asked for an additional $50 million in funding, but legislation is currently pending.
Verseckes said this has happened many times in the past because predicting the weather months in advance is challenging. Spending exceeded the budget last year.
The department began the season with 300,000 tons of salt, with additional deliveries arriving regularly.
The state has used more than 570,000 tons of salt so far, but officials expect no shortages.
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