UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The City of Utica has only seen a half-inch of snow this year.  It may be bad for outdoor enthusiasts, but it's a good thing for city officials, at least from a financial standpoint.

The roads in downtown Utica Thursday night were just as dry as they have been since last spring- no snow, no slush and no salt.

"I love having to look at the streets and see there is no salt, that we have not had to send a plow out. The mayor is happy. I know our budget director is happy," said City Of Utica Spokesman Angelo Roefaro.

Roefaro says since the city has seen six fewer inches of snow than this time last year, nearly $40,000 has been saved.

Roefaro says $40,000 may not seem like a lot of money when the city budget is over $60 million. However, when snow falls are so unpredictable around the Mohawk Valley, it is a lot said Roefaro.

"It is a good amount of money because it takes a month off of our winter, it takes a month off of the time we would be purchasing salt and a month off the time we would be paying for overtime," Roefaro added.

According to Roefaro, in a city budget, the biggest winter expenditure is salt and equipment.
  
"We have to still buy salt, no matter the cost. We have to fix our equipment to go use that salt and plow our streets. So if if it breaks down and we need a specific part, we don't have the luxury to wait, we have to go and do it." said Roefaro.

Although the DPW has yet to go out and sand roads, they are ready. In fact, Roefaro says they have been ready since November 1st, and if a snow fall would occur overnight, they would be out in the morning plowing the roads.