Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak had a lot to say about snow yesterday in an article in the New York Times.

The City of Lakes went $3.3 million over its snow removal budget in 2010 after record December snowfall blanketed the state. That’s more than Minneapolis spends on pothole repairs in the same period.

“On a weather map, some people see snowflakes,” Rybak told the Times. “I see dollar signs.”

And Minneapolis isn’t alone. Awful snowfall in New York, Detroit and Chicago has taxed city budgets to the max.

February’s first snow emergency isn’t boding well for 2011.

— By James Nord.