LEWISTON — A Lewiston official says pending budget cuts could mean it will take longer to clear the  city’s streets this winter after heavy snowstorms.

City highway Operations Manager John Elie says plows won’t be delayed for storms with average snowfalls.

But delays after larger storms could be as much as 12 hours.

The Sun Journal newspaper says the city used five private contractors last winter to help city plow drivers.

But the routes cleared by contractors have been absorbed into the city-plowed routes so they will take longer to plow during major storms.