>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

The rough winterlike weather we’ve experienced for what seems like an eternity has impacted a lot of things, but none more drastically than our streets and roads. Potholes have sprung up everywhere. They need to be patched.

Granted, local government road budgets were stretched to the max because of the months of snow removal and sanding that had to occur this past winter. In fact, The Observer ran several stories about how county and city road budgets were being maxed out and how that would reduce maintenance budgets through the remainder of the year.

Everyone who deals with budgets, whether household or for a business, understands that unusual expenses take a toll. But they also understand that accommodation has to be made for projects that must be done, for expenses that can’t be avoided.

Fixing potholes is one such expense. The job has to be done. It needs to be a priority, just as plowing and sanding streets was during the winter. The public expects its tax dollars to be available for essential services.

Our region’s public works crews did a stand-up job this winter. They need to do the same kind of job this spring and get the streets and roads back to at least a passing grade.

And as the budget makers sit down this spring to plot out next year’s projected expenditures, they need to keep in mind that we do live in Northeast Oregon. Though hard winters like this past one have become more the exception rather than the rule, we do live in a snow zone. Budget accordingly — for both winter conditions and for spring repairs.