Palouse nears zero on snow budget

The City of Palouse has spent nearly all of this year's $12,000 snow removal budget on required work so far.

Clerk/Treasurer Kyle Dixon's numbers for January show $8,600 spent through Jan. 31. Costs for February have come close to consuming the balance of the fund.

Additional budget line items, including $600 for supplies and $3,000 for equipment, have been pratically untapped because the Public Works Department has seen no major breakdowns this winter.

The snow budget items are listed in the city's streets budget. If spending goes over budget, the council may consider a budget amendment to shift money from the general fund.

Mayor Michael Echanove said he hopes it will be “short sleeves and suntan lotion for the rest of the year.”