CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's Division of Highways is burning through its snow and ice removal budget fast, spending about $1 million a day to clear roads.
Gov. Joe Manchin is pursuing federal funding to cope with the string of severe winter storms.
House Speaker Rick Thompson has asked the governor to tap the state's emergency reserves, to help local communities cover storm-related costs.
Manchin said Thursday he's not ruling that out, and has told local officials to put safety ahead of any budget concerns.
Federal aid requests take time. Only on Wednesday did West Virginia submit its request from the mid-December storm.
Highways spokesman Brent Walker says his agency had spent $43 million of its $54 million removal budget by Monday, before the latest round of storms.
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