The temperatures might be chilly and the wind might be blowing, but many officials in charge of clearing North Dakota streets and roads say their budgets aren't under the weather.

Workers have been dispatched to sand and plow Fargo's streets six times so far this winter - about normal for this time of year, said Dennis Walaker, the city's director of operations for public works. But he said the crews have had to deal with less snow than usual.

"So far it's been a nonevent really," Walaker said. "We have about 5 inches total, and that's not a lot for the season so far."

Normal snowfall for Fargo at this time of year is 9 inches, said Bill Barrett of the National Weather Service in Grand Forks. Grand Forks, with more than 12 inches of snow, is about 2 inches above average.

Grand Forks County road crews have been out five times, said Scott Clayton, office project coordinator for Grand Forks County's highway department.

Williston road crews have put more sand and salt on the roads than usual, but have not had to move a lot of extra snow this year, said Monte Meiers, the city's director of public works and engineering.

"We really haven't had to do anything yet," he said.

That's good news for budgets - at least, it's not bad news.

"If we spend more on snow removal, we have to cut back on other stuff the rest of the year," said Morton County Road Superintendent Charles Morman.

Morman said 15 percent to 20 percent of his department's $3 million budget is typically used for snow removal.

"We're sitting good budget-wise this year," said Rodney Ness, the Burleigh County road superintendent. "We haven't even tapped it."

Extra funds are used for capital improvements, Ness said.