Health Department rent called into question

<br>(Tulsa-AP) -- The state Health Department has paid $2,600,000 since the 1980s to rent buildings worth less than $700,000 combined. <br><br>The buildings are owned by attorney Bill Layden and are

Friday, June 30th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Tulsa-AP) -- The state Health Department has paid $2,600,000 since the 1980s to rent buildings worth less than $700,000 combined.

The buildings are owned by attorney Bill Layden and are the onl yproperties the department leases without the option to purchase. Layden says he doesn't know why the state hasn't bought the buildings and says he is interested in selling.

The department's Acting Director Jerry Regier says the department is reviewing the lease agreements to determine if they are appropriate. Regier says an initial review indicates that only one contract is problematic, but he says he does not have the details.