Above-average snowfall this winter has put a strain on the snow removal budgets of state and local agencies. Over-budget costs could mean cuts from spring road maintenance plans at both levels, officials say.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) was already $6 million over its $3 million winter budget as of Feb. 4, and salt use was on pace to break an all-time record, Steve Chizmar, PennDOT spokesman, said.

So far this winter, 42,000 miles of road have been plowed. But when multiple lane plowing is accounted for, this number becomes about 93,000 snow lane miles, Chizmar said.

State College Borough officials are expecting the recent storm to put them over their $139,000 budget as well. Official budget numbers for January and February are unavailable, Mark Whitfield, public works director, said.

"We're probably over-budget at this stage," he said. The borough has 25 "call-out" snow events this year compared to its average of 19, Whitfield added.

For state officials, it will take a couple weeks for an official count of hours spent on cleanup to come from the county level, where it is recorded, Chizmar said. Cost is not tracked on a per-storm basis, he added.

About 63 inches of snow have fallen in State College this winter, up more than 40 inches from last winter's total already, Stephen Smith, AccuWeather meteorologist, said. If snowfall for the season continues at this pace, this winter will become the sixth snowiest ever, he said.

Average snowfall for State College is 46 inches based on a 30-year average, he added.

Averages are important tools when budgeting for snow removal at PennDOT.

"The budget is based on a five-year average," Chizmar said. "For money above the budget, we tap into monies set aside for spring maintenance."

With the last four winters seeing snowfall well below normal, Smith sees reason for concern.

"The average is below the normal average. If they used [the recent average], this [storm] probably doubled what they expected," Smith said. "If it was me, I'd advise them to consider a longer period of time than the last five years."

Borough money for snow removal comes from a state allocation. For 2003, the borough received $490,250 in state funds from gasoline taxes. The allocation is used to fund various types of road maintenance and improvements in the borough, Whitfield said.

"We look at historic costs [and] try to come up with a number that we think will work," Borough Manager Peter Marshall said.

Any amount over the budget would come from general funds -- particularly any projects that were under-budget, he added.

Warm weather in coming days will be a big help to snow removal projects still underway, Marshall said. Main roads were cleaned to the curb Monday night, but as the snow starts melting, crews will continue to clean up, he said.