Government Digest: April 9 - April 15

Record back property taxes owed county
LEE COUNTY — Failure to comply with homestead exemption rules will cost a Lee County couple, Charles and Barbara Parsons, $216,817 in back taxes plus 15% interest — a county record. That's the recent ruling of the county's Value Adjustment Board that found that the couple was renting the south Fort Myers home from 2005 to 2008.

By state law, if a homeowner leaves the property during the rental period, and the residence is rented in consecutive years, the owners do not qualify for the homestead exemption. If the owners don't pay in 30 days, the county will lien the property. The county clerk's office has a lien filed for $8,764 for unpaid tourist development taxes when it was renting out the home. The six-bedroom home is valued by the property appraiser at $4.5 million and is for sale for $7,995,000 reduced from $9,995,000 asked in February.

County commissioner wannabees update
LEE COUNTY — A former candidate for the Lehigh Acres fire board, Raleigh Scott, is the newest applicant for the county commission District 1 seat. The seat became open when Bob Janes passed away in March. Scott joins 26 other applicants vying for the seat including Janes' daughter, small business owner Susan Flinn. Charles Dauray, a member of the South Florida Water Management District governing board, withdrew his application. Gov. Charlie Crist will make the appointment and is expected to schedule interviews soon.