Taxpayer costs adding up in legal fight over Jackson airport

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Taxpayers have spent more than $400,000 so far in the legal battle over control of the airport in Mississippi’s largest city.

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The Clarion Ledger is reporting the expenses. A federal lawsuit was filed in 2016 after Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law to remove the city of Jackson’s role in appointing board members for Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. The law said the board would be replaced by a new one with members from the city of Jackson and Madison and Rankin counties.

Jackson and airport officials call the law a hostile takeover by the state. Republican state Sen. Josh Harkins of Flowood, who wrote the bill, says no one is taking anything from Jackson. Harkins said Jackson would continue to receive tax revenue from the airport.

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