WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- Several Utah cities have already exhausted their salt budgets for snow- and ice-covered roads this winter.

West Valley City has spent the $105,000 it budgeted for salt. The Salt Lake City suburb bought 5,500 tons of salt and has another 2,000 tons in storage.

Provo Public Services Manager Scott Peppler says his city has already spent the $35,000 it allotted for salt. He expects to be forced to spend another $25,000 before winter is over.

Making matters worse, says West Valley City Operations Director Phil Markham, is the price of salt, which has climbed by about $2.50 a ton to between $18 and $30.

The Utah Department of Transportation expects to spend about $6.5 million on salt this winter, up from $5 million last winter, because of increased prices.