A Closer Look At The Deferred Retirement Option Program
Research, RetirementDear Fellow Taxpayer Many of Florida’s longest-serving public employees take part in a program that lets them formally retire “on paper” while continuing to work […]
Florida TaxWatch Releases Cost of Living in Florida: A Mid-Decade Check-In, Cites Housing, Health Care, Property Insurance Concerns in Keeping Florida Affordable
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, April 2, 2026 CONTACT: Christina Johnson Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its report, Cost of Living in Florida: A Mid-Decade Check-In. These metrics clearly
Florida TaxWatch Releases 2025 Budget Turkey Watch Report
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tues., June 17, 2025 CONTACT: Christina Johnson, christina@on3pr.com, 850.339.5773 Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its , an annual independent review of the state budget to promote
Florida TaxWatch Announces Two New Hires in CyRhonda Flanagan, Director of Membership and Engagement, and Brandi Gunder, Vice President of Research
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, May 5, 2025 CONTACT: Christina Johnson, christina@on3pr.com, 850.391.5040 Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today announced two new professionals joining the ranks of its independent,
Florida Voters Continue to Say Yes to Proposed Tax Increases
Research, TaxesAt the state level, taxpayers in Florida have enjoyed tax cuts passed by the Legislature every year since 2009. However, at the local level, Florida voters continue to vote to significantly increase the taxes they pay. A 2021 Florida TaxWatch report discovered that since 2010, Floridians voted to increase their own taxes 142 times. This includes voting to extend existing expiring tax levies.
IDEAS IN ACTION—It is Well Past Time to Modernize Florida’s Baker & Marchman Acts
Blog, ResearchPatt 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.
Are Floridians Ready to Go Back to School? Not Without More Teachers…
Education, ResearchSchools are not immune to the workforce shortages plaguing all sectors of our economy. In preparation for the start of the school year, hiring enough teachers and staff members to satisfy vacancies has been a challenge for school districts.
2022 Taxpayer Independence Day
Local Government, Research, TaxesOn Thursday, April 14, Florida TaxWatch joins the taxpayers in our state in celebrating Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2022. On that day, Floridians are finally earning money for themselves–not for the tax collector. This symbolic date assumes that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local tax obligations. This measure of tax burden is based on the relative size of all taxes paid in Florida to our state’s total personal income. In 2022, for the average Florida household, paying its taxes takes 103 out of 365 days, nearly three and a half months.
A New Durbin Amendment Would Spell Trouble for U.S. Credit Card Customers
Economic Development, ResearchThere are times when we are uncertain what will happen if a particular public policy is implemented. A proposal in Congress about cuts in interchange fees on credit cards is not one of them.
Comments to the Honorable Jennifer Bradley, Chair, and Members of the Senate Committee on Community Affairs regarding SB 510 – State Funds
Press ReleasesMy name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for over 40 years, has worked to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of Florida government and promote a fair and equitable system of taxation.
