Winter seems a bit off this year with the extreme absence of that white powdery stuff.

State Climatologist James Angel said there is a lack of snow in Northern Illinois, while Southern Illinois is experiencing more snow than usual.

“This year, it’s kind of been what I’d call a snow drought,” he said.

Angel said DeKalb has received the least amount of snowfall since 1966 “at least for the moment,” but “a couple of snowfalls” could change that.

In the recent budget crisis, some are looking at the lack of snow as a lucky way to save some money in snow removal.

Bob Albanese, NIU associate vice president of finance and facilities, said in a year the university budgets $80 to $100 thousand dollars for overtime costs, most of which are incurred in snow removal. This year the university has only spent about $20 thousand dollars in overtime costs.

Albanese said things have been working out nicely because overtime costs have not been incurred due to snow removal, but he doesn’t know how the rest of the winter will look.

“Usually in January, February and March is when we have the bulk in overtime,” he said.

John Conlin, DeKalb assistant director of public works, said the city hasn’t spent as much money in snow removal as in past winters.

“We really don’t consider it a savings, because we really don’t have money sitting in the bank just for snow removal,” he said.

Conlin said the city signed on to purchase 2,500 tons of salt for snow removal for this winter and the city is obligated by contract to purchase 70 percent of that salt. Whether or not they will be held to that contract is up to the vendor.

Conlin said $95,000 was budgeted for salt this year.

“If things stay the way they have been, we will spend 30 to 40 thousand less than projected,” he said.

That may seem like a lot of salt, but it is all for safety.

Conlin said salt is applied when the snow starts to fall to keep it from bonding to the pavement.

Albanese is hopeful the winter will remain mild.

“Given the budget situation in the state, we’re really keeping our fingers crossed not to incur those overtime costs,” he said.

He may not need to cross his fingers.

“Right now they’re actually calling for an increased chance of a warmer winter,” Angel said. “And a dryer winter.”