The Tucson Airport Authority board recently gave airport officials the go-ahead to take legal action against Hertz Corp. for underpayment of about $600,000 in rental-car business fees, the Arizona Daily Star reports.

The airport authority said that an audit it performed found that Hertz had underreported revenue from Aug. 1, 2002 to Dec. 31, 2005, and that due to that underreporting, it owes the airport authority $593,410. Hertz has paid $26,240 of the disputed amount, according to a statement released by the airport authority.

Rental-car companies are required to pay the airport "privilege fees" based on their revenues. Hertz legal counsel and airport authority staff are trying to negotiate a resolution without resorting to litigation, according to the statement.

A spokeswoman for Park Ridge, N.J.-based Hertz said the company does not comment on ongoing legal issues.

The board decided during its closed executive session to move the Hertz issue onto the panel's consent agenda, essentially removing it as an item for discussion.