LANSING, MI -- As Lansing officials scramble to balance next year's budget, one area that has escaped serious scrutiny is the $1.4 million fleet of city administrative vehicles, according to the Lansing State Journal newspaper. Several City Council members said when they voted on the financial plan last month that they weren't even aware the city provides 94 vehicles on the taxpayers' tab and that it costs at least $100,000 to maintain them every year. The council on May 17 passed the $107.3 million budget, 5-3. It takes effect July 1. The council passed the budget last month with the stipulation that the mayor’s staff cut a combined $50,000 from the administrative fleet and cell phone budgets. That's just part of $1 million in cuts that need to be made by Sept. 15 to balance the budget. Some Lansing residents, when informed of the fleet, said fleet cars for employees and mileage reimbursement are the types of benefits that should go when the city is trying to make ends meet.