WASHTENAW COUNTY, Mich. -- The Washtenaw County Road Commission said it plans to scale back on winter snow removal this winter to cut costs and offset shrinking funds.

A new policy has been set in place: No overtime snow removal for subdivisions or gravel roads will be paid for unless there is 4-inches or more of snow on the ground or there is a severe ice storm or blowing conditions.

"There have been some complaints, but it seems like most cars can make it through three inches of snow," said Washtenaw County Road Commission Managing Director Steve Puuri.

Gary Dotson said his girlfriend lives in Scio Township and she is already trapped at the current threshold, which is 3 inches of snow.

"She couldn't believe they weren't going to plow the roads unless they got 4 inches or more," said Dotson.

Full-time road crews are on duty from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, while a smaller night patrol shift runs from 8 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. In serious snow storms, Puuri said drivers will work 16-hour days.

But commission is trying to trim overtime costs by $50,000.

The main roads and freeways will not see much of a change, but the secondary and rural roads will be more affected by the cuts.

Puuri said that on top of the cuts, salt prices have skyrocketed.

"The cost of salt went up 40 percent this year, add that to the cost of labor, fuel," said Puuri. Washtenaw County will have a very different winter this year."

Puuri said the county plans on going through 20,000 tons of salt this winter.

The Road Commission has a fleet of 46 snow plow trucks, including two new ones, to maintain 1,647 miles of county roads and is contracted by the state to maintain another 581 lane miles of state highways.