A spokesman for Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston said the Blue Ridge Republican would have paid more than $1,300 in property taxes to Dawson County earlier if he had known about the debt.

Dawson County Tax Commissioner Linda Townley filed a lien for the amount, which includes penalties and interest, earlier this year on property owned by Ralston's wife.

The taxes were due on Dec. 1, 2010. Townley filed the lien in April.

The spokesman said Ralston settled the debt as soon as he was notified of the taxes.

According to Dawson County tax records, Jane Ralston has owned the 10 acres of undeveloped property on Sweetwater Juno Road since 1983.

The speaker is not listed as an owner of the site.

Ralston's communication staff called the matter "an unfortunate oversight."