Ralph Hughes' widow: I need $14,000 a month

The 77-year-old widow of Ralph Hughes, the one-time Hillsborough County powerbroker, says she will be destitute if a court doesn't allow her to get more than $14,000 a month from her husband's estate.

Betty Hughes and her son, Shea, have petitioned a federal court judge to dismiss claims by the IRS that Hughes estate owes $300 million in taxes, which represents both personal liabilities and those from his company, Cast-Crete. When Hughes died, the estate was worth $47 million, according to court papers. The estate paid $17 million in taxes and now has about $30 million left.

The Hughes family maintains that all the taxes owed were already paid by the estate.

Since the IRS filed a claim for back taxes in May, the estate trustee has not released any funds to the Hughes family.

In July, Hillsborough County commissioners removed Hughes' name from the county's Moral Courage Award. Hughes' family asked that his name be taken off the award after The Tampa Tribune and TBO.com reported the Internal Revenue Service claim that Hughes died owing more than $69 million in taxes. The IRS later increased the amount it claims is owed.

Hughes' family has disputed the IRS charges, saying he paid millions in taxes and would not avoid his responsibilities to the government.

Fervently against taxes and big government, Hughes helped shape the course of county politics. He backed candidates he liked with advice and money. He supported county Commissioners Jim Norman and Ken Hagan, as well as former Commissioners Brian Blair and Ronda Storms

Betty Hughes says in an affidavit that she has not worked outside the home in 45 years, and that she has health problems associated with her age.

Ralph and Betty Hughes lived in Temple Terrace before moving into a $3 million, 8,800-square-foot waterfront home in South Tampa in 2007.

When her husband of 38 years died on June 27, 2008, at the age of 77, Betty Hughes says, she was solely dependent on the trust that contained Hughes' money, she says.

She said she also has a developmentally disabled, adult son who lives with her and for whom she is responsible.

"Other than my husband's trust accounts, I have no source of income and no money to pay bills or for my living expenses," she says in the affidavit.

Among the monthly bills she cites are:

$6,056 for property taxes

$667 for insurance, for her house, which is insured for more than $2.5 million.

$667 for car insurance,

$225 for garbage and water service

$1,250 for electricity

$800 a month for educational expenses

$200 for clothing

$1,200 for groceries and meals

$333 for travel expenses.

$500 for personal care

$100 for entertainment

$833 for medical and dental expenses

$500 for home repairs

$200 for lawn maintenance