November 16, 2009

It seems no one is immune to budget cuts this year, including the Kansas department of transportation.

Tom Hein, spokesperson for KDOT, said this year will be a balancing act between getting the roadways cleared and doing so under budget. One way he said they're working to keep costs down is by cutting back on overtime and standby pay, something Hein admittedly said can be risky.

"If we know the storm is coming, we will be ready," said Hein. "It will be a fine line between what we can provide and what we cannot provide with the resources available," he said.

Despite the fine line they're walking, Hein said their mission to keep roadways clear and keep drivers safe remains the same, regardless of cost.

"We hope we will be able to squeak by and everything works perfectly... We're hoping for a mild winter," he said.