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Milder Winter Saves Taxpayers A Ton On Road Salt Costs

Ohio Department of Transportation

Though it’s been cold and snowy this week, this year’s warmer than usual winter is good news for Ohio taxpayers. Before this snowfall, the state had spent a little over $63 million on road salt, when the yearly average spent over the last decade has been nearly $77 million.

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Matt Bruning said the fair weather means the state has been able to save a lot of road salt. “At this point in time, we have used the second lowest amount of salt of any winter over the last ten years. The only one that we have used less salt in was back in 2012 when we had only used about 368,000 tons," Bruning said.

Bruning said salt prices are determined by supply and demand. So he says the price for salt will likely be lower next winter because the supply should be plentiful. But even with this mild weather, Bruning notes the state’s road crews have worked more than 638,000 hours clearing snow and ice this winter.

Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau

Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.