Property maintenance costs rise $1.5 billion in 2010

The cost to maintain government property increased more than $1.5 billion in 2010, the Federal Times reported.

According to a General Services Administration report released Friday, the government paid $30.7 billion in 2010 to maintain its roughly 3.3 billion square feet of property, an increase from $29.2 billion in 2009.The report excluded several Defense Department buildings.

Meanwhile, the cost to maintain excess and underutilized properties actually decreased from $1.8 billion in 2009 to $1.6 billion in 2010.

Maintenance costs covered utilities, cleaning, repairs, grounds-keeping and rent for leased properties. Overall, $5.30 per square foot was spent to operate government-owned space, while the cost to operate leased space increased from $12.80 to $15 between 2009 and 2010.