More money approved for winter road maintenance & salt...but how much?

MADISON (AP) — The Legislature's finance committee has agreed to give the Department of Transportation an additional $27.4 million to help county governments cover higher than expected winter road maintenance costs and salt purchases.

The state reimburses counties for taking care of state roads. But counties spent more than expected on plowing and melting ice this past winter. Some county highway commissioners say they've already spent their entire winter maintenance budget for this year. That money was supposed to support winter work like plowing until 2015.

Meanwhile the state was forced to purchase 150,000 extra tons of salt.

The Joint Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved giving DOT $16 million to cover county maintenance and another $11.4 million to cover the salt.