GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. -- More than 15,000 tons of salt already fill the Kent County Road Commission garage. That's to prepare for the unpredictable West Michigan winter after more than 100 inches of snow fell around the state last year.
"This is a big jump in price, and we're going to feel the affects for sure," said John Richard of MDOT.
Road salt prices statewide have jumped by more than 46 percent. In 2013, road salt cost an average of $44 per ton. This year, it's nearly $66 dollars per ton.
"If we use the same amount of salt that we used last year, that's going to be an additional $14 million in salt alone," Richard said. "That's 15 percent of our entire budget."
In 2013, MDOT used $29 million of its $88 million budget on salt, and those sky high prices could mean cut backs in other areas if the coming winter gets rough.
"We have to cut back on cutting the grass, trash removal, graffiti clean up, even the surface maintenance," Richard said.
The budget squeeze affects county road commissions and city operations, too. While prices go up, tax revenues don't.
"We get that flat amount in, and if people don't drive more or buy newer cars or buy more gas, then we get the same amount of money," said Jerry Byrne of the Kent County Road Commission. "If we get the same amount of money, we are going to cut back in the summer and the spring because we are going to take winter as the number one priority."
Both Kent County and MDOT say they take measures to make sure they're getting the most out of their salt. They've slowed their trucks down to about 25 mph. They also work with meteorologists and the National Weather Service on predictions and conditions.
