Q4 2017 Broward Schools SMART Program Report Review
Broward BOC, Local Government, ResearchPresented to the Bond Oversight Committee on August 28, 2017, this report examines the SMART program quarterly report for Q4 of FY2017.
Florida TaxWatch Announces Thurs., April 18 is Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2024
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch is announcing that tomorrow, Thurs., April 18 is Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2024. This symbolic occasion assumes that every dollar
Comments to the Honorable Blaise Ingoglia, Chair, and Members of the House Commerce Committee Regarding HB 489: Tourism Marketing
ReleasesOne only needs to look at the experience of other states that have reduced or eliminated their tourism marketing efforts to understand what will happen if VISIT FLORIDA is eliminated. States like Colorado and Washington that have drastically cut or eliminated their investment in travel promotion have experienced immediate and long-term negative economic impacts. Destinations that fail to invest consistently in travel promotion will see visitors, jobs, and tax revenues go elsewhere. Should Florida choose to follow suit, tourism and the economic activity and taxes it generates will certainly decline.
Florida TaxWatch Joins Taxpayers in Celebrating Taxpayer Independence Day Sunday, April 14
Press ReleasesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Sunday, April 14, Floridians will celebrate the first day of the year where taxpayers are finally earning money for themselves and not for the tax collector. Taxpayer Independence Day, calculated by Florida TaxWatch, accepts that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local obligations. This year, it will take the average Florida family 103 out of 365 days – or almost three and a half months – to satisfy its tax obligations. Looking at it another way, it takes two hours and 15 minutes of every eight-hour workday to earn enough to pay your taxes.
Budget Watch – Actual GR Collections in 2017-18 Exceed Estimates
Budget & Appropriations, ResearchActual net GR collections for the fiscal year that that just ended exceeded the last estimate (February 2018, adjusted for legislative changes) by $205.2 million (0.66 percent). This will be added to the unobligated FY2018-19 GR (cash reserve) balance of $1.026 billion to be carried forward to the next budget year (FY2019-20). These numbers, along with the current cycle of the state’s Estimating Conferences, can begin to define the fiscal outlook for the next state budget that will be developed by the 2019 Legislature.
2017 Recognitions & Awards
In the News, UpdatesHere is a list of the specific Zak's products that received these recognitions in 2017: Good Food Awards: Cacao Nib Caramel International Chocolate Awards Silver:
Budget Watch – FY2017-18 GAA Only Tells Part of Florida’s Budget Story
Budget & Appropriations, Cost Savings, Local Government, Research, Taxes, Taxpayer GuideThe 2017 Florida Legislature passed a $82.418 billion General Appropriations Act (GAA), already the largest in the state’s history. But this is not all the money appropriated this year.
2017 Session Wrap-Up
Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research, Taxes, Taxpayer GuideThe 2017 Legislature passed only 249 bills, the second lowest number in at least the last 15 years. This wrap-up details the issues TaxWatch followed this year.
2017 Budget Turkey Watch Report
Budget Turkeys, ResearchThe $82.4 billion budget passed by the Florida House and Senate for FY2017-18 contains 111 appropriations items qualifying as Budget Turkeys worth $177.8 million. Most of these (79 projects worth $139.4 million) are transportation projects that are not in the Department of Transportation Work Program.
Florida TaxWatch Reveals Innovative Winners of the 2017 Prudential Productivity Awards Program
Press ReleasesToday, Florida TaxWatch announced the winners of the 2017 Prudential Productivity Awards at a press conference in its offices in Tallahassee. In its 29th rendition, the Prudential Productivity Awards program is designed to highlight and reward state employees who innovatively reduce costs and improve services for Florida taxpayers.
