Mild winters drive down road salt prices

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A newspaper reports that state and local governments saved a combined $10 million this year on road salt contracts as a result of recent mild winters and a new pooling process.

The Columbus Dispatch reported Saturday that significant stores of unused salt have driven down statewide average prices from $54 a ton to $42 a ton since last winter.

The newspaper reported that the Ohio Department of Transportation solicited regional rather than county-by-county bids this year because reduced demand affected the state's ability to obtain bulk discounts.

Bidding came amid an ongoing lawsuit filed by Attorney General Mike DeWine against salt suppliers Cargill Inc. and Morton Salt Inc. that alleges the companies conspired to drive up prices by rigging bids around the state.