Two news outlets reported today that State Rep. Mike Hill is under investigation for fraudulently claiming homestead exemption for a house he owns at 6080 Forest Green Road in the Marcus Pointe area, while listing his home address as 1 Portofino Drive Unit #2108 on state financial reports.
Three years ago, when he entered the 2013 special election to replace the late Rep. Clay Ford, Hill relocated from Marcus Pointe, which is in District 1 and represented by Rep. Clay Ingram, to Pensacola Beach to live inside District 2. Records show that the Rep. Hill continued claiming homestead exemptions for the Marcus Pointe residence from 2013 through 2015.
Inweekly discussed the investigation with Escambia County Property Appraiser Chris Jones, whose office received the complaint earlier this month.
“We currently have 149 active homestead investigations,” said Jones. “This investigation is being handled the same as the other 148. Yesterday, we began reviewing the allegation and mailed a certified letter to Mr. Hill asking for further documentation.”
According to Jones, that documentation may include driver’s license, voter registration, vehicle registration, school registration for any dependent children, and, since Portofino is a rental unit, income tax returns.
Hill has 10 days to respond to the certified letter.