Fewer snowstorms this winter didn't translate into a windfall for the Ketchum Street Department.
Two major snowstorms in Ketchum in December and January sapped the department's resources, leaving available funds more or less where they were at this time last year.
The snow removal budget, which falls under the umbrella budget of professional services, has about $18,000 left, said Street Superintendent Brian Christiansen. That amount remains from $135,000 allocated for keeping Ketchum's streets snow free.
"Our average snowfall is six inches (per storm)," Christiansen said. "The two major dumps were over two feet. With the amount of snow we had, we used most of our budget."
During the average six-inch storm, the city puts to work about a dozen trucks.
"We can typically have the snow cleared with 10 to 12 trucks and most of the (city's) core cleared in one night," he said. "If we don't clear it right away, we'll lose parking and sight distances at intersections."
For this winter's big storms, however, 18 trucks were needed to clear the streets quickly.
But the sparse amounts of precipitation the rest of the season meant the streets department didn't have to request additional money from the city's general fund.
"I wouldn't say it cost any more money than in regular years," Christiansen said. "But my prediction is we're not going to have much left over."
Although snow amounts haven't packed a punch, gas prices are forcing some adjustments.
The city gave a $5 per hour surcharge per truck to their subcontractors to offset the rising cost of fuel.
If fuel prices drop, Christiansen said they'll stop paying the surcharge.
