INSIDER
Orange County property appraiser suffered ‘character assassination’ during election, lawsuit claims
Read full article: Orange County property appraiser suffered ‘character assassination’ during election, lawsuit claimsORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh has filed a libel lawsuit against a political action committee that created and distributed ads that he says assassinated his character and damaged his reputation. The FDLE did investigate Singh during his time in office after he was accused of altering Orange County Property Appraiser’s records that were submitted to the comptroller’s office during a 2015-2016 audit that focused on fuel and travel expenses. Prosecutors said they believed Singh submitted altered documents for the audit but that his behavior didn’t reach a criminal threshold. A judge ruled in Disney’s favor, saying that the court appraised the 65-acre property at $209 million and the theme park should be refunded $1.2 million. The lawsuit alleges that the defendant committed defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and invasion of privacy.
Meet the candidates: Heres whos running for Orange County property appraiser
Read full article: Meet the candidates: Heres whos running for Orange County property appraiserORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Three Democrats are running in the primary election seeking to be Orange Countys property appraiser. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of Floridas primary election]The county property appraiser is responsible for identifying, locating and fairly valuing all property within the county for tax purposes. She is the only woman whose name will appear on the ballot for the role property appraiser. In running for public office as the Orange County property appraiser, Muneer wants to bring back the credibility and trustworthiness of the office which has been eroded over the years, his website reads. (WKMG)Rick Singh is the incumbent hoping to extend his time in the Orange County Property Appraisers Office.
2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of Floridas primary election
Read full article: 2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of Floridas primary electionIf youre not, you can update your voter information ahead of the General Election, which is set for Nov. 3, using that same link. Below is a county-by-county breakdown of information Central Florida voters need to know, specific to where they live. Something else thats important to watch, especially in light of recent changes in education due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic: Every Central Florida county but Sumter has school board races this year. Click here to see some of the coronavirus-related precautions Central Florida counties are implementing at the polls. For more information on Central Florida elections, head to Clickorlando.com/results2020.
Orange County Property Appraiser wont face charges after FDLE investigation
Read full article: Orange County Property Appraiser wont face charges after FDLE investigationORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Following a two-year investigation into misconduct allegations against Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh, state prosecutors will not pursue charges against the elected official running for re-election. Singh was accused of altering Orange County Property Appraisers records that were submitted to the comptrollers office during a 2015-2016 audit. This week the state attorneys office announced they would not be pursuing charges against Singh based on the investigation. Investigators found Singh submitted an altered photo to justify his attendance at the Curry Festival in Tampa taken two years after the event. The communication manager for the Orange County Property Appraiser sent this statement in response to the conclusion of the investigation.
Not magic? Disney sues Florida county over property taxes
Read full article: Not magic? Disney sues Florida county over property taxesORLANDO, Fla. One thing that is not magic to Walt Disney World is the property taxes it must pay to a Florida county. Disney is once again suing the Orange County property appraiser over 2019 tax assessments for its theme parks, resorts, employee buildings and other structures. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Property Appraiser Rick Singh says the Disney complex has been undervalued for years. According to the Disney lawsuits, Singh listed the assessed value for the Magic Kingdom the worlds busiest theme park at $504 million. Disney World has been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and plans a phased reopening starting July 11.
Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh tests positive for COVID-19
Read full article: Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh tests positive for COVID-19ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. Orange County property appraiser Rick Singh is resting at home and expected to make a full recovery after testing positive for COVID-19, his office announced. Singh received the results Thursday from a test he took two days prior. Although members of his office have been working remotely due to the pandemic, Singh has had contact with some employees, who are now in self-isolation in case they were exposed. While our community cautiously begins to return to normal, it is important to remember that the COVID-19 virus is still a threat, and CDC guidelines for mitigating exposure should be followed, a post from Singhs office read. The Orange County property appraisers downtown office remains closed to members of the public.