Feds suing Florence airport over rent charges

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — Officials at the Florence Regional Airport thought they were getting a sweet deal when they rented space to the Transportation Security Administration nine years ago.

The federal government now says the deal was too sweet.

SCNow.com reports (http://bit.ly/L6Wsq5 ) the contract drawn up by the federal government leased a 1,000-square-foot office to the TSA for more than $18,000 a month.

Former Airport Authority Board member Fred Jolley says it seemed unusual but the authority thought it was getting a good deal. The federal government renewed the contract twice.

Now the government says the deal was a little too good and is suing the authority, saying it grossly overpaid for rent.

The lawsuit is seeking $1 million from the airport authority.

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Information from: Morning News, http://www.scnow.com