The economic downturn has hit cities and towns all over Massachusetts. When money troubles hit, snow removal budgets are among the first to take the hit. Unfortunately, Massachusetts winters don’t usually respect fiscal realities. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue the total 2008 deficit reached $35 million across 140 cash-strapped cities and towns.

Massachusetts Rep. John Binienda recently devised a way to help cities and towns pay for costly snow plowing. He filed a bill that would funnel proceeds from a new two-dollar lottery scratch card to cities and towns that need help paying for snow removal. Revenues generated from the “Snow Bank” scratch tickets would be put in a new fund ear marked solely for snow removal.