On a recheck, club's tax bill sheds $28,000

By LEON M. TUCKER

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 4, 2000

Few times has an accounting error been received with such cheer.

Members of the Dunedin Country Club were aghast when they learned two weeks ago that the club's property tax bill would be five times what was expected. With club membership sagging, the thought of raising yearly membership dues again -- this time by $100 -- just didn't sit well.

But on Friday, club president Ray Rosa said there had been a misunderstanding. A club member miscalculated next year's tax bill. The club would owe $6,682, considerably less than the projected bill of $35,000.

"You can say it's a relief," Rosa said.

City Manager John Lawrence was satisfied with the news.

"Someone at the country club told us if they had to pay the full amount of taxes, it would be $35,000 -- that was just inaccurate information," he said. "I think it resolved itself quite nicely."

The club began leasing land from the city in 1962 and has a 22-year lease with the city that expires in 2017. The lease is examined every five years. City commissioners are expected next week to extend the lease to 2022.

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