Homeowners with Irma damage can possibly receive tax relief

Writer: Derrick Shaw
Published: Updated:
WINK News

Almost a year after Hurricane Irma struck, residents in Timberwood Village in South Fort Myers are still picking up the pieces.

Homeowners like Alfred and Suanne Gotsche say they’re out thousands of dollars.

“The initial shock and then trying to figure out, ‘OK, how are we going to tackle this problem?'” Alfred said.

Alfred and Suanne replaced everything the storm damaged on the first floor of their home when the Ten Mile Canal flooded their neighborhood.

“Our own personal insurance did nothing for us, absolutely nothing,” Suanne said.

But, relief may be on the way to help homeowners like Alfred and Suanne.

The Lee County Appraiser’s Office is encouraging all homeowners to send them evidence of damage that wasn’t fixed as of January 1. The officer says to send as much evidence as possible when submitting a relief request. This can be anything from an insurance claim to pictures.

The office will then reevaluate homeowners property value, then potentially send them a tax break.

“There are things, like our appliances, that were destroyed and we never been reimbursed for those. So if I get a little bit about tax relief, it takes off that cutting edge off,” Suanne said.

Alfred and Suanne says that knowing the county is offering help is giving them some peace of mind.

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