The mild winter we've experienced so far has saved the city of Akron a lot of money compared to this time last year.

Akron Deputy Service Director John Valle tells AkronNewsNow "We're very fortunate. We have spent right around $20,000 prior to yesterday afternoon. $20,000 so far this winter has been outstanding compared to $1.5 million that we spent in 2010 in December."

John Valle says last winter was a rough one. "When you think about 2011 we had a horrendous January, February and March. We spent upwards of $5-million fighting snow and ice last year so that really helps us on a positive note." says Valle.

Akron Deputy Service Director John Valle by Akron NewsNow

Valle says over the past three years Akron has spent between 4 and $5-million on street salting and snow removal.

Valle says while this is great news so far he'll wait to see what January through March brings before counting the city's savings. " We know that we've got another 90 days of rough winter ahead of us. We know we're going to experience the el-nino from Canada, and i honestly think once Lake Erie freezes over I think we're really going to start seeing a very difficult winter here in northeast Ohio."