Naperville taxpayers could be on the hook for roughly half a million dollars more in road salt costs this winter after a major supplier pulled out of Illinois' bulk purchasing program, leaving the city piecing together enough supply to keep streets safe.

The city secured only 3,000 of its roughly 12,000-ton annual need through the state's joint procurement program run by the Department of Central Management Services, according to Chicago Tribune reporting published Thursday, Aug. 20. To fill the gap, Naperville locked in 4,000 tons through an emergency deal with West Chicago-based Midwest Salt and is pursuing another 5,000 tons through a separate state emergency procurement.

The price tag stings.

"There is a large price increase for salt this year," Naperville director of communications Linda LaCloche said. "Last year we paid around $70 per ton, and this year we will anticipate that we will pay $113.50 at a minimum and over $140 for the salt off the state bid."

At $113.50 per ton for 12,000 tons, the city's salt spending would approach $1.36 million. Naperville budgeted $895,190 for road salt in its 2023 budget, according to city council procurement records. The current-year budget line has not been publicly released; residents can request it through the city's FOIA portal at naperville.il.us.

Why the shortage hit

More than 250 Illinois communities received zero bids through the CMS program for the 2026-27 season. The cause: a large supplier that typically wins contracts across the state chose not to participate this cycle. CMS spokesperson Cynthia Johnson said in a statement that efforts are underway to find vendors for "no-bid locations." In a separate letter to affected communities, CMS warned that emergency prices could be higher still.

The Daily Herald reported Aug. 15 that nearby Mount Prospect secured 5,000 tons from Midwest Salt at $112.59 per ton, up from $68.35 last year. Aurora pursued its own competitive sealed-bid process and does not anticipate shortages.

What it means for Naperville streets

Naperville operates two salt domes with a combined capacity of 18,000 tons, one at the Public Works Service Center and one off Plainfield-Naperville Road, according to a 2022 city council procurement document. City policy calls for both domes to be substantially full before winter begins so crews aren't relying on mid-season deliveries, which can be delayed and more expensive.

Over the decade before 2022, the city averaged 12,500 tons of salt per year. Operational upgrades, including retrofitting remote-control salt spreader systems on all plow trucks in 2019, cut usage by more than 7,000 tons annually. In the 2021-22 season, Naperville used about 9,300 tons.

If all three procurement channels deliver, the city would have 12,000 tons on hand heading into winter. That covers a typical season but leaves little margin for a heavy one.

No comment from Naperville's Public Works department on current dome inventory levels was available. The city council's September meeting schedule has not been posted; check naperville.legistar.com for the agenda, where salt procurement costs could appear as a budget item.