Winter storm cleanup costs Delaware $16 million

Mother Nature has hit Delaware where it hurts the most: its pocketbook.

The latest storm figures show that the state spent more than $16 million in winter storm clean-up costs. This is up significantly from the $4.7 million spent in Fiscal Year 2013.

The figures come as the state grapples over current budget shortfalls.

According to a breakdown of costs provided by the Delaware Department of Transportation, the state spent $6.2 million on salt, $3 million on overtime, $2.7 million on subdivision reimbursement costs and $800,000 on sidewalk clearing costs.

Additionally, the state used 96,351 tons of salt to maintain the more than 13,000 lane miles of roads for which DelDOT is responsible. Local cities are responsible for clearing municipal roads.

New Castle County recorded 18 days of measurable snow this winter and school districts statewide had to call off classes nearly a dozen times. The last time the state saw comparable snow accumulation was in the winter months spanning 2009 and 2010.