Maryland Surpasses Snow Budget

By Kate Sheehy

Maryland transportation authorities say the state has surpassed its budget for snow removal with the massive cleanup effort from last weekend's blizzard.

The State Highway Administration has spent $27 million since last month for snow removal; it had only budgeted $26 million for the entire winter.

A Maryland transportation spokesman tells the Washington Post it's too early to breakdown how much was spent running equipment and how much went towards labor costs for state employees. Authorities say the bulk of the money though was spent clearing highways and BWI Marshall Airport.

Spending estimates do not include the cost of activating the National Guard, or replenishing supplies of salt and other equipment to get ready for the next storm.

Maryland says each state transportation agency will have to figure out how to pay for snow removal for the rest of the winter.