DeKALB | As snow continues to fall on DeKalb this winter, the city’s public works department is feeling the heat on snow removal funds.

Assistant city manager Linda Wiggins said the public works department has a yearly budget of $3,314,237, with $100,250 going to snow and ice removal materials and $60,000 going to contractual labor.

Mark Espy, assistant director of public works, said public works has gone $50,000 over on snow and ice removal and $18,000 over on contractual labor.

Wiggins said the overspending can be picked up within the department, or another department may have to pick up the cost.

Espy said though the snow removal went over budget, the department isn’t expecting to make any cuts. The rest of the operational budget is expected to cover the snow removal costs.

“The operational budget is fine, except for the snow removal,” Espy said.

The department is currently within budget on other items, such as vehicle maintenance parts and fuel use, Espy said.

Salt supplies have also been declining as the cold weather continues.

The current terminal the city receives salt from is out, but they are expecting a supply from a different location Wednesday morning, Espy said.

The city currently has about 400 tons of salt on hand, which can handle a large snow event. A normal two-to-three inch snowfall would require around 200 tons, and a larger storm with zero-degree weather and wind requiring between 400 to 500 tons, Espy said.

DeKalb County engineer William Lorence said the county highway department currently has 500 to 700 tons of salt on hand, and could withstand a major snow storm.

NIU staff meteorologist Gilbert Sebenste said he is expecting snow mixed with sleet starting this afternoon, but is expecting more rain than snow.