Research

Every year, Florida TaxWatch produces numerous independent, objective and sound public policy research publications in a variety of formats--in-depth Research Reports, concise Briefings and updates, budget-related Budget Watch, Special Reports, Economic Commentaries on Florida′s economy, and our public forum/opinion opportunity, Ideas in Action--all designed to keep Florida TaxWatch members informed.

What's Hot In Research

• Estimating Conferences Project More Money for the 2011 Legislature, August 2010
• Economic and Caseload Estimating Conferences Provide More Information for Next Year's Budget Shortfall Forecast, August 2010
• Next Year’s Budget Outlook Begins to Take Shape through a Series of Estimating Conferences, August 2010
• Amendment 8 is the Right Investment for Florida: Evidence Shows Modifying the Class Size Reduction Amendment Will Save Billions for Florida Taxpayers, July 2010
• Florida TaxWatch Presentation: Preliminary Findings on the Economic Impact of Solar Energy in Florida, July 2010
• The 2010 Florida TaxWatch Turkey Watch Report, May 2010
• 2010-11 Florida TaxWatch Turkey List, May 2010
• Florida Taxation and Budgeting Workshop (presentation by Director of Tax Research Kurt Wenner), April 2010
• The People First Contract Reassignment Florida should renegotiate to enhance taxpayer value before consenting to assignment, April 2010
• Federal Debt and Florida's Future, April 2010
• Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2010! Independence Comes Five Days Later Than Last Year, April 2010
• 2010 Legislative Briefing: Education Personnel Reforms, April 2010
• Florida's Financial Exposure from Its "Self-Insurance" Programs: The Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, April 2010
• How Independent Are Florida Inspectors General?, April 2010
• Modernizing Process of Estimating Fiscal Impact of Legislation Benefits Florida, March 2010
• When Good Policies Go Bad: Unintended Economic Consequences of Assessment Cap, March 2010
• Strengthening the Role of the Office of the Inspector General Will Improve State Operations by Reducing the Cost of Services, March 2010
• Report and Recommendations of the Florida TaxWatch Government Cost Savings Task Force to Save More Than $3 Billion, March 2010
• Borrowing Short-Term Federal Money to Pay Unemployment Benefits Will Help Boost Florida's Economy and Generate Jobs, March 2010
• Recap of "Five Good Things About Florida's Economy" Forum, February 2010
• It's Not About the Amount of Money in the Budget. It Is About the Measurable Value Added to Florida and Floridians, February 2010
• Five or Even Six Good Things About Florida's Economy (Presentation), February 2010
• Preparing Florida's Students to Close the Talent Gap for an Innovation Economy, February 2010
• Governor Crist Releases ″Optimistic″ $69.2 Billion Spending Plan, January 2010
• Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Let the evidence speak for the scholarship for low-income students, January 2010
• Recommendations for Boosting Investment, Economic Growth, and Job Creation in Florida, January 2010

For your convenience, the latest in research at Florida TaxWatch is made available to you in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Please follow the link if you need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader free of charge.

2009 Research

• 2009 Annual Report, December 2009
• International Trade: A New Pillar of Florida's Economy?, November 2009
• Higher Education Transformation: Must We Have a Crisis as a Catalyst, November 2009
• The Current Recession in Florida: Comparative Information and Data on the Worst Economic Downturn since the 1930s, August 2009
• New General Revenue Estimates Reduced Slightly, Full Recovery Not Expected to Begin Until Spring 2011, August 2009
• Improving Accountability and Transparency in Escambia County Government Phase II, July 2009
• State Competitiveness Indexes and Rankings: What They Tell Us about Florida's Competitiveness and Future, July 2009
• 2009 Prudential Financial - Davis Productivity Awards Magazine, June 2007
• The 2009 Florida TaxWatch Turkey Watch Report, May 2009
• The 2009 Turkey List (spreadsheet), May 2009
• Analysis of the Potential Economic Impact of Repealing Certain Sales Tax Exemptions Related to Providers of Homes and Services for Florida's Aging, April 2009
• How to Make Streamlined Sales Tax Legislation Revenue Neutral, April 2009
• Establishing a Retirement Visa Would Help Revive Florida's Vital Real Estate Industry, April 2009
• Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2009! Independence Comes Four Days Earlier Than Last Year, April 2009
• The Positive Economic Impact of Solar Energy on the Sunshine State, April 2009
• Single Sales Factor Presentation before the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy, April 2009
• Florida Must Be Careful Not to Regulate or Tax the Hospitality Industry Out of Existence, April 2009
• Analysis of the Collection and Allocation of Court-Related Revenues within Florida's Judicial System, April 2009
• The Economic Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan on the Florida Economy: A Preliminary Analysis, April 2009
• What Florida Can Do to Spur Economic Growth: Modernizing Tax and Regulatory Policy in Telecommunications, April 2009
• Proposed Economic Stimulus Projects Bring $15.2 Billion to Florida Over Three Years, March 2009
• Money for Unemployment Compensation from the Federal Economic Stimulus Take it or Leave it?, March 2009
• Transforming Florida's Corporate Income Tax to Encourage Capital Formation and Job Creation, March 2009
• The Economic Impacts of Restructuring Florida's Sales and Use Taxes on Fractional Aircraft Ownership, March 2009
• How Much Revenue Will the Seminole Gaming Compact Provide For Florida?, March 2009
• Economic Impact Analysis of Florida's Manufacturing Sector, March 2009
• Excerpt from the Acceptance Speech of the Honorable Dean Cannon to be House Speaker Designate of the Florida House of Representatives, March 2009
• Reviewing Sales Tax Exemptions, March 2009
• Exemptions for Further Possible Examination, March 2009
• The One-Two Punch that Could Roll Back Workers' Compensation Reforms, March 2009
• Florida's Fragmented Hospital Taxing District System in Need of Reexamination, February 2009
• Budget Watch: Analysis of the Governor's Recommendations FY 2009-10, February 2009
• Out-of-State Online Shopping Costs Florida Thousands of Jobs, February 2009
• Constructive Ideas to Help Florida Address the Budget Shortfall, January 2009

Reports posted online are free of charge. We've made the past several years' research available electronically for your convenience.  A fee of $5 each for copies of most reports (for postage and handling) is requested for archived reports (click link below). Please send a check for $5 per report made payable to Florida TaxWatch to P.O. Box 10209, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Please specify which reports you wish to receive. Some reports may no longer be available and your fee will be refunded in those cases. Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for delivery. Thank you.