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 […]
2026 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up – Special Session Edition
Budget & Appropriations, Research, TaxesIntroduction The 2026 Legislative Session, and its attendant special sessions, are finally over. For the second year in row, the Legislature could not complete its
2026 Budget Turkey Watch Report: FY2026-27
Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Local Government, ResearchIntroduction Many in the Florida Legislature have been rightly criticizing local governments for rapidly increasing property taxes and budgets. The property tax debate and the
Florida TaxWatch Announces Taxpayer Priorities for 2023 Legislative Session
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released a list of taxpayer priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session, which begins on Tues., March 7 and is scheduled to adjourn on Fri., May 5. The list reflects a range of issues that the independent, nonpartisan taxpayer research institute has examined and will continue to closely monitor during the upcoming session.
STATEMENT: Legislature Must Protect Dollars for Teachers and Environment, Fund Coronavirus Response by Cutting Member Projects
Press ReleasesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement following reports that the Florida Legislature is considering cutting allocations meant to increase teacher pay, boost environmental investments, and fund other critical issues in order to pay for the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
2018 Budget Turkey Watch
Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research, Taxpayer GuideThe $88.7 billion budget passed by the Florida House and Senate for FY2018-19 contains 87 appropriations items qualifying as Budget Turkeys worth $147.5 million. Since projects were not added to the budget during conference this year, most of these were flagged because they circumvented established selection processes. This includes 56 local transportation projects worth nearly $120 million. These member projects, for which there is no formal evaluation and selection process, bypass the transportation planning process, potentially diverting funds from projects that are in the DOT work program.
Budget Watch – Proposed Budgets Close in Amount, but Big Differences Remain
Budget & Appropriations, ResearchThe budget’s bottom lines are relatively close, with the Senate’s $87.3 billion plan coming in at only $100 million more than the House. While the totals are similar, some big differences exist, particularly in education and environmental funding.
Budget Negotiations Take a Turn for the Worse
BlogThe Legislature needs to put aside their differences and negotiate a fiscally responsible budget all Floridians can be proud of.
Budget Watch – Proposed Budgets for FY2017-18 Far Apart
Budget & Appropriations, Research, Taxes, Taxpayer GuideAs we enter the penultimate week of the 2017 Legislative Session, the next state budget is still very much up in the air. The House and Senate spending plans are effectively $4 billion apart.
Budget Watch – Proposed House and Senate Budgets for FY2016-17 are $1 Billion Apart
Budget & Appropriations, Cost Savings, Research, TaxesThe House and Senate passed their respective state budgets for FY2016-17 with four weeks remaining in the 2016 Session. They will now go into the budget conference process to negotiate the differences. Conference meetings could start as early as this week (the week of February 22).
