With the weather changing across Illinois municipalities are starting to think about buying road salt.

State highway experts are expecting municipalities to buy less salt this year after last season's mild winter. Champaign County Highway Department Superintendent Tracy Wingler says "there's an abundance of salt."

Champaign County used about 1,100 tons of salt last year. But the year before, which was a heavier winter, the county used about 4,800 tons of salt. The county bought about one-third the amount of salt it usually purchases.

Champaign County and the cities of Champaign and Urbana buy the salt through a state program that allows them flexibility in purchasing.