Recent TaxWatch Reports

Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: Read more

Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools:

The Broward County Public Schools’ Bond Oversight Committee Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2022 (“District Quarterly Report”) provides updated information on the implementation of the District’s SMART Program and the use of general obligation bond funds to purchase and install technology upgrades, purchase music and arts equipment, improve school safety and security, upgrade athletic facilities, and renovate educational facilities.

A Comprehensive Guide to Florida's 2022 Constitutional Amendments Read more

A Comprehensive Guide to Florida's 2022 Constitutional Amendments

On November 8, 2022, Floridians will vote on three legislatively referred proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution. At least 60 percent of the voters must vote in the affirmative for a proposed amendment to pass. This Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide is designed to provide Florida voters with information about each of the proposed amendments to help them cast well-informed votes.

Demographic Data for Businesses and the Census Read more

Demographic Data for Businesses and the Census

On Wednesday, August 31, Florida TaxWatch hosted a webinar “Demographic Data for Businesses & the Census” to discuss Florida’s population undercount in the 2020 Census, the impact this has on the business community, and efforts to secure more accurate data. During our webinar, we were joined by Mary Jo Hoeksema, Co-director of the Census Project; Dr. Karthick Ramakrishnan, Founder and Director of Census Legacies; Susan Racher, Vice President and CFO of Wallace H. Coulter Foundation; and Ashley Dietz, President and CEO of Florida Philanthropic Network.

IDEAS IN ACTION—It is Well Past Time to Modernize Florida's Baker & Marchman Acts Read more

IDEAS IN ACTION—It is Well Past Time to Modernize Florida's Baker & Marchman Acts

Patt Maney is a retired brigadier general and former county court judge who has represented District 4 (Part of Okaloosa) in the Florida House of Representatives since 2020. Reforming Florida’s civil commitment laws was one of his primary motivators for seeking legislative office because as a judge, he presided over Baker Act hearings and witnessed the law’s various shortcomings.

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The Florida Power 100 

The most influential political players in the Sunshine State.


CONGRATULATIONS DOMINIC!

Dominic Calabro’s Florida TaxWatch keeps a close watch on government spending in Florida, examining proposed state budgets, assessing the impact of various industries and educational investments, and identifying “budget turkeys” that it recommends cutting. This year, Calabro applauded Gov. Ron DeSantis for vetoing 71 of 166 “turkeys,” saving hundreds of millions of dollars. Calabro has spent four decades leading the organization, which bills itself as an “independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute & government watchdog” and “the eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers.”

Florida Tax Watch Executive Committee Members and Board Members on the Florida Power 100 List

Mary Mayhew (24),  President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association

Fred Karlinsky (26), Chairholder and Co-Chair, Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice Group, Greenberg Traurig

Emmett Redd (38), CEO, Florida Health Care Association

Jeff Johnson (42), State Director, Florida AARP

Eric Eikenberg (44), CEO, The Everglades Foundation

Joe York (48), President  AT&T Florida and Caribbean

Patrick Geraghty (55), President and CEO, Florida Blue

Brewster Bevis (62), President and CEO, Associated Industries of Florida

Marva Johnson (77), Group Vice President, Charter Communications

Bill Herrle (78), Florida Executive Director, NFIB

Todd Jones (79), CEO, Publix

Scott Shalley (81), President and CEO, Florida Retail Federation

John Kirley (85), Founder and Chair, Step Up for Students

Doug Tuthill (85), President, Step Up for Students

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