Amid economic uncertainties, Utah County cities have a mixed bag of balanced budgets and financial shortfalls as they make preparations for winter.

With snowfall and cold weather as imminent parts of a Utah Valley winter, cities employ several methods to help keep residents safe ¬ -- particularly on the roads. However, economic issues have caused some cities to make cutbacks.

A bare-bones budget and the rising costs of winterization have led Mapleton City to abandon its traditional bare-road policy. Supply and demand have driven up road salt prices this year; consequently, only the city's busiest intersections and crosswalks will be salted during the snow season, Mayor Laurel Brady said.

The reduction in salt usage will likely require heightened awareness from drivers. In Mapleton's November newsletter, Brady urged residents to drive more slowly and carefully, advising them to plan to stop sooner than they normally would when approaching intersections, and to give space to the cars they trail.

Mapleton city manager Gary Calder said the city will run snow plows as normal, adding it was difficult to say how Mapleton would be impacted this winter.

"The sad thing is, we can't predict the future, so our weather may or may not be a concern," he said.

On the other hand, some cities in the valley have more easily managed to stay afloat.

Over the past month, Springville has been stockpiling salt. The city also purchased two new 10-wheelers with sanding and plowing abilities, giving them a total of four after their old machinery was given to surplus, Springville public works director Brad Stapley said. Additionally, the city has two large flatbed trucks with sanders.

Springville has a six-year maintenance plan where roadway treatments -- such as sweeps, asphalt overlays and crack and chip seals -- are provided on a rotating basis. All the city's roads will receive treatment at some point during the six years.

The city has been able to follow its budget and provide its usual services, in large part as a result of conservative budgeting and city growth projections, Stapley said.

One procedure of note that Springville is making this year is to prohibit parking on certain streets during the winter. This is part of the city's plan to expedite traffic and maintain safety, Stapley said.

"A parked car is a royal pain for a plow," he said.

City employees from both Payson and Salem have also noted they shouldn't see any major changes in salting, sanding or plowing roads this year.

"We're anticipating to do about the same, but we're telling the guys to conserve what they can," Salem City finance director Jeff Nielson said. "If they can save one way, then [they should] do it."

Nielson said Salem has been watching its budget and planning for the season, but added that winter-preparedness procedures may vary according to a city's size.

"A lot of bigger cities go through a lot more work," Nielson said. "For a small city, we try to do what we can."

More information on Springville's winter parking restrictions can be found at www.springville.org.