Dundee City Council is to spend a six-figure sum on advanced new vehicles but because of a typing mistake, councillors approved an extra £19,000.
The environment committee agreed to spend £315,775 replacing a fleet of motors with electric cars and various plant vehicles.
Councillor Derek Scott asked if a “typo” had resulted in one ride-on mower being given a £55,480 price tag, as he said this seemed high.
An officer confirmed the figure was correct however, it was later revealed the actual price was £36,480.
Mr Scott said later: “I asked a question about the cost of the ride-on mower because it seemed very expensive, even for a high-specification piece of kit.
“It was also exactly the same price as converting two vehicles for food waste collections, and I wondered if this was a typographical error.
“I have since been advised by the director that there was indeed a typo and the cost of the ride-on mower had been overstated by some £19,000.”
A Dundee City Council spokesman said: “An error has been discovered in the report and the actual figure for the ride-on mower was around £19,000 cheaper than stated at committee.
“The director of environment has been in contact with Bailie Scott and all other elected members to apologise and to clarify the position.”
The department is to replace seven leased diesel pool cars with electric cars at a cost of £57,743.
Additional cars, one of which is to be wheelchair accessible, will be purchased, as will two minibuses, wood chippers and a ride-on mower.
Two refuse vehicles will be converted to accommodate food waste.
Councillor Fraser Macpherson questioned the extravagance of the bill and said savings could be made by sharing resources across the council and through partnerships with other public services.
He said: “Many of these vehicles are specialist, but minibuses are a good example of vehicles that can be used across departments rather than being the property of one department.
“We need to make sure the vehicles are used 24/7 and not parked up not being used at any time.”