Late reporting of campaign finances could end up costing Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen a hefty fine.
The Republican from Fort Myers might face a significant fee for waiting nearly seven weeks past the deadline to file her first-quarter 2013 finance reports.
On April 11, the Florida Division of Elections sent Fitzenhagen a note about the deadline for candidates to submit campaign-financing reports for Jan. 1 to March 31. Her office received a second notice May 6, reminding her of the civil penalty.
Failure for a candidate to arrange financing reports on time may result in a fee of $50 per day for the first three days after the deadline. After that, the fine will jump to $500 daily until the department receives the information. The maximum penalty is 25 percent of the candidate’s expenditures.
If Fitzenhagen ultimately pays any fines, the money raised during the quarter determines the amount. Friday, Fitzenhagen reported more than $13,000 in contributions.
Fitzenhagen could avoid paying up to $3,312.50, which would come out of her personal funds, by appealing to the Florida Elections Commission. There is also the chance she can pay a smaller penalty if the Commission grants an appeal and Fitzenhagen can show a good-faith effort to comply with the statutes.
A change in accountants, Fitzenhagen says, is the reason for the filing delay and she is talking with elections officials in Tallahassee.
“Things got away from me while I was focused on the legislative session,” Fitzenhagen says.
Fitzenhagen has 20 days from receiving notice of the fine to file any appeal.
According to finance records, donors to Fitzenhagen in first-quarter 2013 include Publix, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and Walt Disney Travel Company.
