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Less Snow This Winter Hurting Businesses That Count On It To Make Money

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ)-- Another beautiful day but hardly a winter type day.

As Mike Schuh reports, those that count on the snow to pad their paychecks are disappointed with this winter.

Most years, by now, we can count on more than a foot of snow, and we usually get it. But not this year.  There's been nothing but clear skies and mostly meager moisture. Cities, counties and the state are overjoyed these dry roads are saving millions.

But there's more to plow than just streets and highways. There are countless businesses, parking lots and sidewalks.

It's warm enough though that dirt, not snow, is getting the heave-ho.

So those contractors who would be driving and salting now race to complete landscaping jobs while the weather's good.

"So what we've done now is start on projects we had budgeted for March or April, so we're a little bit ahead of the curve," said Mike McWilliams of Maxalea Landscaping.

His company is out thousands, but is safe because when budgeting for the year, he doesn't count on any snow revenue in the first place. But for his workers, snow plowing is all extra work. They're out hundreds of dollars per week in overtime.

"It hurts us and them, especially them because that is a kind of cushion for them," McWilliams said.

Mother Nature has been so off her game this year, Maxalea has hardly even had to spread salt on the sidewalks of the businesses that have them on call. The ground just has been too warm. The snow-- like the workers' overtime-- is just melting away.

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