FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  THE SUPREME COURT HAS SPOKEN AND THE BATTLE'S OVER!
First District Court of Appeal ruling on Amendment Five

Preliminary Report: Comparative Evaluation of CHILD: Phase III , October 2002
For the past three years, Florida TaxWatch has been evaluating an innovative educational system being implemented in K-5 enhanced classrooms of approximately 30 students throughout five Florida elementary schools. How does this system, called CHILD (Changing How Instruction for Learning is Delivered), compare to traditional instruction in classrooms of approximately 20 students? Find out in this TaxWatch Research Report.

Amendment 9 on Class Size Reduction is Structurally Unsound; Putting at Great Risk Revenues, Costs, Quality Teachers and Florida's Future, October 2002
Amendment 9, Florida's ballot initiative to reduce class size scheduled for the November 2002 ballot constitutionally mandates legislative funding, beginning in fiscal year 2003-2004, to reduce the number of students in each classroom. For Florida voters to approve Amendment 9 would be a blunder of major fiscal proportions. See why in these TaxWatch Research Report.
Selected Bibliography on the Class Size Amendment.

Florida Legislators Should Take Their Salaries Off Auto-Pilot , October 2002
Since 1985, Florida lawmakers have received a pay raise almost every year and have not had to stand up and vote on their salaries. See how this was accomplished and how legislative pay and expenses compare to other states.

Voters Approve 8 of 9 Proposed Local Taxes - With More to Come , October 2002
Local taxes contribute significantly to funding governmental operations. Florida voters have decided that these tax initiatives reflect the needs confronting their local governments. Local governments clearly feel the pinch of state mandates and budget shortfalls, particularly coupled with their growing populations and operational costs. In this Briefing, TaxWatch reviews the newest tax initiatives around the state.

A Dangerous Idea: Amendment 5 Would Put the Power to Raise Taxes in the Hands of Too Few , September 2002
Slated to be on the November 2002 ballot, Amendment 5 would radically change the way Florida sets tax policy. This proposal -- its title, and ballot summary language -- will be confusing to Florida voters and is deceptive on several counts. In this Special Report, TaxWatch shows why Amendment 5 is a dangerous idea and needs to be struck from the ballot.

The First Constitutional Amendment Estimating Conference Puts an Official Price Tag on Class Size Initiative , July 2002
Florida's first Constitutional Amendment Initiative Impact Conference was held on June 27, 2002, and it resulted in a hefty price tag for the voters of Florida to consider in the November 2002 election. In this Briefing, see what the proposed five state constitutional amendments will cost each taxpayer in Florida.

The 2002 Turkey Watch Report, June 2002
The struggle to find funding for vital state services didn't keep Florida lawmakers from stuffing turkeys into the tight budget for fiscal year 2002-2003. A list of "budget turkeys" released today by Florida TaxWatch highlights nearly $300 million in projects that should have gone on the Governor's line item chopping block.
June 5, 2001 press release.

Improved Efficiency = $22 Million for Hillsborough County; Florida TaxWatch and Blue Ribbon Committee Recommendations Prompt Service Delivery Improvements; Much Remains to be Done, May 2002
In 1997, the Hillsborough County Commission contracted with TaxWatch to develop deliverables comparing and analyzing government structures, functions, services and taxes in Florida and other states with criteria to evaluate services and service levels, performance-based standards for measurement of services, cost saving recommendations and ways to improve Hillsborough County's capacity to address revenue, expenditure and program challenges over the next decade. In this follow-up report the county has implemented 57% of the recommendations in part or whole, or similar measures within the spirit of the recommendations while another 8% still await consideration/action and the remaining 35% have not been implemented or have been rejected. Recurring and non-recurring added value between January 1999 and April 2002 from these and related recommendations totals $22.3 million.

Use of Non-Recurring Revenue to Fund Recurring Expenses An Impending Moment of Truth Facing Florida's Budget, May 2002
This Budget Watch provides a breakdown of recurring and non-recurring funds being used to balance the 2002-2003 fiscal year budget. Only time will tell how much non-recurring money will be used for recurring programs in the final state budget, but the initial analysis shows enough reliance on non-recurring funds to be cause for concern.
May 8, 2001 press release.

Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2002 , May 2002
May 3rd marked Taxpayer Independence Day -- the day average taxpayers will have logged enough hours to pay federal, state and local taxes. Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2002 arrives four days earlier than it did last year, and eight days earlier than 2000. Generally Floridians work more than one-third of the year, or 122 out of 365 days, to pay their taxes.
May 2, 2001 press release.

Sales Tax Holiday Provides Real Benefits to Consumers and Florida's Economy, May 2002
TaxWatch reviews the proposed Florida sales tax holiday and determines it is good for taxpayers and the economy alike and should be continued. The Legislature is currently debating whether the sales tax holiday will continue for a fifth straight year.

Florida Should "Piggyback" Its Corporate Tax Code With the New Federal Economic Stimulus Provisions, April 2002
In this new Briefing, TaxWatch takes a look at the potential impact of changing the state corporate income tax code to keep it consistent with the federal code (piggybacking), and concludes the move would be costly, but necessary. Piggybacking keeps things consistent for businesses, and allows for better auditing by the state through federal audits.
April 24, 2001 press release.

2002 Legislative Wrap-Up, March 2002
The Florida Legislature went into the 2002 Regular Session with four things it really needed to get done. It finished the 60-day session accomplishing only one. See what the Legislature did and did not do in this TaxWatch Briefing.

Carefully Overhauling Florida's Tax System Over the Long Haul, March 2002
With the passage of HJR 833 by the 2002 Florida Legislature, a major departure from Senate President John McKay's original vision of a tax overhaul was granted permission to inch its way toward the proverbial finish line, subject to voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November 2002. The new plan has several major hurdles in its way before its proponents can claim victory. Even should they persevere, the debate over how to best modernize Florida's tax system will be unending because Florida's economy and business climate must be in sync with the ever-shifting demands and uncertainties of the new global economy. In this Special Report, TaxWatch reviews what is next to occur in the process of Florida Tax Reform.
April 9, 2001 press release.

New Sales Tax Exemption Review Proposal Has Serious Flaws, March 2002
After TaxWatch issued a comparison of the House and Senate approaches to sales tax exemption review, the House passed a Joint Resolution which would propose a constitutional amendment to create a joint legislative committee to review all exemptions (and exclusions of sale of services) from the sales tax. The proposal, which apparently has been agreed to by Senate leaders, contains elements of both approaches. Florida TaxWatch finds serious fault with some of those elements.

House and Senate Take Different Approaches to Sales Tax Exemption Review, March 2002
As the 2002 Legislative sessions closes, one of the major differences between the House and Senate remains sales tax exemptions. Both chambers have proposals for legislative review of exemptions, that while similar in concept, have some major differences. In this Briefing TaxWatch examines the differences.

Florida is Not Alone in 9/11 Revenue Shortfalls, March 2002
The revenue shortfalls Florida has been experiencing is being used by some to decry the "instability" of Florida's state revenue structure and point to the need for tax reform. However, the economic downturn of the last year and the impact of 9/11 has hurt state revenue coffers all across the nation. In this Briefing, TaxWatch examines how other states have been effected and their response to the revnue shortfalls.
March 11, 2001 press release.

Legislation Should Result in Improved Driver License Services for Floridians, March 2002
Legislation being considered by the 2002 Florida Legislature could have a positive impact on the driver license services Floridians receive by increasing the participation of tax collectors in the provision of those services. TaxWatch examines the legislation and makes recommendations on the issues.

Tax Reform Proposal's Claims Questionable; Revenue Neutrality: Just an Illusion?, February 2002
Revenue neutrality should mean that the new tax structure would raise the same amount of revenue as the old one during the same time period and under the same economic conditions. The Senate's tax reform proposal sets a different standard, limiting the revenue in the first year of the tax to the previous year adjusted for growth regardless of what the current tax would have been expected to raise. In this "Special Report" TaxWatch shows the limits of the newest tax reform proposals.
February 15, 2001 press release.

Florida Sales Tax Exemptions Overstated, February 2002
Author Cass D. Vickers provides a careful review of the nearly $23 billion in exemptions cited in the 2001 Florida Tax Handbook. Vickers concludes the exemptions label is being misused to describe billions of dollars in transactions that the State is barred from taxing by the U.S. Constitution or by other controlling law or is simply not a transaction to which the sales tax was intended to apply.
February 11, 2001 press release.

A Tax on Services Does Not Belong in the Constitution, February 2002
In this fact-based, historic perspective on Constitutional Amendments, author Robert S. Goldman says the Constitution is not the proper vehicle for advancing the need for tax reform.
February 11, 2001 press release.

Florida TaxWatch Position Paper: Modernizing Florida's Tax System, February 2002
Florida TaxWatch commends Senate President John McKay for his vision and courage in proposing Sales Tax Reform. His initiative gives new life and a heightened visibility to the debate over how to modernize Florida's tax system. However, while an informed tax debate would be good for Florida and its citizens, there is little hope that this will happen in the climate of acrimony and sound-bite mentality that already has emerged over the McKay initiative. TaxWatch reviews the legislation and provides sound recomendations before undertaking this ambitious initiative.
February 6, 2001 press release.

Assessment of Prevention Services of the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services
The family institution perseveres as a preeminent bellwether of the health and welfare of American society. When families face difficulties, their neighborhoods, communities and governments absorb many of the aftershocks extending from those difficulties. Certainly, Florida state government offers several avenues of assistance to troubled youth and their families. In this study, TaxWatch evaluates the track record of one such program: the services provided by the Florida Network of Youth and Families. The network provides juvenile crime prevention program services under contract with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
January 28, 2002 press release.

Legislature Balances Budget With a Mix of Cuts, Trust Funds and Taxes, December 2001
The Florida Legislature just completed the second special session called to balance the state budget in the face of severe revenue shortfalls. This time it succeeded in doing what it could not do the first time-pass an appropriations bill that the Governor will sign. In this Briefing, TaxWatch documents the achievements of the Special Session.

Adaptation and Implementation of 2001 Davis Productivity Awards Achievements Can Save $140 Million, November 2001
The Davis Productivity Awards promotes achievements that can be adapted and implemented throughout state government. This TaxWatch Research Report summarizes 180 adaptable achievements from the 2001 awards competition. These achievements can generate as much as $138 million added value if fully implemented over the next three years.

Guiding Florida through Our Fiscal Storm: TaxWatch Offers $1 Billion Budget Cuts, November 2001
In our first November Briefing, TaxWatch called on the Governor to summon a new special Session at an early date. Now that he has done so, both he and Florida's Legislature will have to make some tough, but essential, budget decisions when they meet again on November 27, 2000. Floridians continue to have legitimate concerns about their public health, safety and the economy and will hold lawmakers accountable if they do not rise to the challenge this time round. As anticipated, the recessing economy has continued its downward path since the tragedy of September 11. The state's economy, particularly the tourist industry, continues to be hard pressed.

Florida TaxWatch's Comparative Evaluation of Project CHILD: Phase II, November 2001
Parents, community leaders and policymakers remain concerned that many of Florida's children are not receiving the type of classroom instruction that will enable them to thrive in the information society of today and prepare them for the future. One of the most commonly held solutions is to decrease class size. However, this is a very costly and debatable solution in light of reviews of the current research. It may also be difficult to reduce class sizes in the short run due to chronic teacher shortages and growing student enrollments. In an effort to get to the bottom of the issue, TaxWatch undertook a controlled, comparative evaluation of Project CHILD (Computers Helping Instruction and Learning Development), an innovative computer-integrated instructional system designed to increase academic achievement. This is the second phase of a three-phase study.

A Clarion Call for Statesmanship of the Highest Order: Veto the Post-Session Spending Plan and Start Over!, November 2001
Future Floridians need to be able to tell their children that Florida state government rose to the occasion when the health, safety and economic welfare of its citizens was directly threatened at the turn of the century. In this Briefing,TaxWatch calls on the Governor to summon a new Special Session at the earliest possible date to create a new spending plan which will allow Florida to get its fiscal house back in order and also to jolt Florida's tourism-dependent economy back on track.
November 1, 2001 press release.

Florida TaxWatch Offers Additional Ideas to Deal With Budget Shortfall, October 2001
Earlier this month, Florida TaxWatch issued a Budget Watch detailing $700 million worth of cost savings and budget cuts in the face of a projected budget shortfall caused by a slowing economy and exacerbated by the terrorist attacks of September 11. Since then, state revenue estimators have revised their projections and have increased the estimated budget shortfall for the current fiscal year from $670 million to $1.3 billion. TaxWatch offers in this Budget Watch another set of ideas to save almost $400 million.

Bold Actions are required to Get Air Tourists Back to Florida!, October 2001
Florida's economy, so dependent on tourism, is caught in the eye of the storm. In fact, approximately $5.6 billion to $6.9 billion of state tax collections in Florida's General Revenue Fund in 1999 came from direct and indirect tourism-related activities. With the airlines being so hard hit by the recent events, TaxWatch outlines which steps to take to get tourists flying again and what more needs to be done by Florida to restore this integral part of the state economy.

Guiding Florida through Our Fiscal Storm: TaxWatch Offers $700 Million Budget Cuts, October 2001
Florida's Governor and Legislature will be making some tough decisions over the next few months as they face the reality that Florida will have less money than anticipated, both for the current budget year and the next. Governor Bush has called for a Special Session of the Legislature to deal with the current budget shortfall. While the Governor has rightly stated that everything should be on the table for discussion, appropriate budgetary policy and taxpayer concerns lead Florida TaxWatch to recommend that the Governor and Legislature opt for reducing spending first. In this Budget Watch, TaxWatch makes the following cost saving recommendations to the Legislature and Governor.
October 12, 2001 press release.

Florida Must Continue to Be Open for Business, October 2001
The terrible events of September 11 have created many challenges for the nation. In addition to thousands of profound personal tragedies and the threat to our national security, the economy was also dealt a serious blow. It is now certain that Florida will have less money than anticipated, both for the current budget year and the next. What is not certain is what will happen next. The state must take steps to deal with the current shortfall and the key to that is to keep Florida's 16 million residents and its tens of millions of visitors back in the business and hospitality of Florida.
September 28, 2001 press release.

Two Possible Scenarios Prescribed by State Law for Resolving A Projected Budget Deficit and Putting Things in Perspective, September 2001
Since Florida's Constitution requires a balanced budget, what then are the options available to Florida lawmakers should the state face a projected budget deficit as now appears likely? In this lastest Budget Watch TaxWatch examines how lower than expected revenues will force mandated procedures to take effect to re-balance the Florida budget.
September 7, 2001 press release.

Florida Joins the Streamlined Sales Tax Project: An Important First Step In Modernizing Florida's Tax System, August 2001
The first in a series of Special Reports on Modernizing Florida's Tax System by Florida TaxWatch looks at Florida's special, and possibly unique, vulnerability to recent major developments in the economy, in information technology, and in tax jurisprudence which, in converging, are opening great holes in the sales and use tax bases of all the states.
August 24, 2001 press release.

Rostylav Pavlenko, Ph.D., Freedom House Visiting Fellow at Florida TaxWatch
Florida TaxWatch was honored to be working, during the months of June and July, 2001 with Dr. Rostylav Pavlenko, a Visiting Freedom House Fellow from the International Comparative Analysis Institute (ICAI), Kyiv, Ukraine. Dr. Pavlenko's fellowship is sponsored by Freedom House, founded as a bipartisan effort by Eleanor Roosevelt and Republican leaders as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to establishing liberty, freedom and democracy throughout the world. The Visiting Fellows program provides professional training for new leaders from Central and Eastern Europe's young democracies. The program gives them an opportunity to work side-by-side with select policy and research organizations in the United States and equips them with the expertise to develop the infrastructure upon which democratic societies can be built and prosper.

The 2001 Turkey Watch Report, June 2001.
This year, Florida TaxWatch found 528 turkeys worth $282.8 million in the 2001-02 state budget. In the 18 years of Florida TaxWatch Turkey reviews, this year sees the largest flock of turkeys, exceeding the previous record of $234.7 million set in 1999. In number, this year's 528 just passes 1999's total of 526. This confirms that turkeys are back in full force after a few years of relatively small turkey numbers in the early 1990s.
June 7, 2001 press release.

What are others are saying about Florida TaxWatch? Florida TaxWatch received news stories and editorials highlighting its twenty years of outstanding and effective service to all the taxpaying citizens of Florida. See some of them HERE.

Florida TaxWatch Honored by the Governor and Florida Cabinet! PLUS information on our 20th Annual Meeting . . .

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