SAINT JOHN, N.B.- More than 2.3 million dollars in new vehicles has been approved by Common Council.

City staff came back to council after being asked last week to review the vehicles they really needed in order to provide service.

Staff only cut one vehicle from the list and Finance Commissioner Greg Yeomans says it actually costs more to maintain the old ones

Councillor Ray Strowbridge questioned the cost of maintenance. “The amounts of some of these maintenance costs versus the year of the vehicle and what I see as very low kilometres, I’m wondering who’s fixing these vehicles and charging us this much money because this is mind boggling”, says Strowbridge.”Are we being billed five hundred dollars an hour to change a tire?”

Councillor Shirley McAlary who voted in favour of spending the money says she has faith in city staff.