ANN ARBOR, MI – The city of Ann Arbor may be able to wipe out part of its budget deficit by getting rid of under-utilized cars and trucks, according to a report in the Ann Arbor News. A recent review of department vehicles revealed a city-owned van used only one hour a week, a parking enforcement car that averaged 28 miles a week, and a city dump truck that was used 2.3 hours a week to dump calcium chloride on dirt roads. All will be eliminated or redeployed to replace other aging vehicles. Officials estimate they can save the city about $1 million in operating expenses and maintenance and replacement costs over the next 10 years by cutting 36 vehicles from its fleet of about 410 cars and trucks. The city is facing a $3 million deficit even with layoffs and is considering rais-ing taxes to balance the fiscal 2004-05 budget, according to the Ann Arbor News reported. The city has reduced its work force from 1,004 employees in 2000-01 to about 800 in the upcoming fiscal 2004-05 year, beginning July 1. Each city department head was asked to submit a written vehicle use justification. City staff then analyzed usage for each vehicle and targeted the city's least-used cars and trucks.