Mild Winter Has Been Kind to Village Budget

Hinsdale may not have won the Mega Millions Friday, but it has hit a jackpot of sorts.

Right now the village has a stash of rock salt in storage and cash in the bank, thanks to the mild winter.

George Franco, director of public services, said the village is on its way to saving $21,000 in chemical spray and rock salt used to remove snow from the streets and $20,000 in overtime pay.

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The village's fiscal year runs from May 1-April 30. The current fiscal year, which ends this month, includes bills for clearing up after the summer 2011 rain and wind storms. Franco said he will not know if the $20,000 savings in overtime will hold out until he looks at all overtime expenses for the fiscal year.

"It just may be a wash," he said.

Franco knows that the village has saved 500-600 tons of rock salt over last year, which included a 20.2-inch snowstorm on Feb. 1-2, the third largest in the Chicago area's history. That storm alone cost the village $40,000 in supplies and overtime.

The village's salt bin is full, with 400 tons of salt. Howver, that is not unusual. The village always ends the winter with that amount, Franco said, in preparation of next winter.

Hinsdale is enjoying its largess because of record-breaking weather the area has experienced this winter, capping off with the warmest March in Illinois history.

When temperatures hit 81 on March 14, it was the earliest occurrence of 80-degree temperatures in the 135 years since area weather history has been recorded, said Ed Fenelon, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, Chicago office.

March 20’s high temperature of 85 degrees combined with the low of 63 is the kind of weather that is normal for the Fourth of July, Fenelon said. In all, March had eight days of temperatures 80 degrees or higher.