Preston - The town has overspent its winter budget for plowing, contractors and materials and already used up huge stockpiles of salt and sand that were replenished two weeks ago.

First Selectman Robert Congdon told the Board of Selectmen on Thursday he will have a detailed budget overrun request for the Board of Finance next month, when all expenses have been tallied.

Congdon said snow totals this year were lower than the 1995-96 winter, but because of timing and severity of storms, clearing snow this year has been "much, much more expensive."

The town purchased 300 tons of salt and sand two weeks ago, and the pile already has been depleted, Congdon said. Town crews have been out every day recently to repair potholes that are emerging now that the roadways are starting to thaw.

"We usually use 3 tons of pothole mix each year," Congdon said. "We've gone through more than that this week."

- Claire Bessette