The Army gave Newark a free helicopter that ended up costing the city $2 million

The city of Newark, New Jersey found out the hard way that sometimes you definitely should look a gift horse in the mouth.

NJ.com reports that "public records show the city... has spent more than $2 million to refurbish, maintain, and operate [a U.S. Army hand-me-down helicopter] which does not fly all that often."

According to AP, the 42-year-old Vietnam-era OH-58A Bell Kiowa chopper was donated to Newark in 2005 as part of a military surplus program. Newark asked the Department of Defense for the helicopter in 2002 so they could use it to counter a growing number of carjackings and vehicle thefts.

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In just the past five years, bills accrued by the Newark City Council for the aircraft have amounted to $1.13 million. Flight logs show the helicopter typically flies only on Friday and Saturday nights for four-hour patrols.

Newark is infamous for its budget problems. In 2010, Mayor Cory Booker made headlines when he laid off 167 police officers.