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Trends in the Cost of Construction Materials

Manufacturing, Public Infrastructure & Utilities, Research
/ Manufacturing, Public Infrastructure & Utilities, Research / 2 minutes of reading

Construction is a cornerstone of Florida’s economy, contributing $97 billion (5.7 percent) to the state’s GDP in 2024. However, rising material costs are presenting significant challenges to the industry, impacting everything from large-scale infrastructure projects to residential home building and affordability for Florida taxpayers. This report from Florida TaxWatch examines the national and statewide trends driving these price increases and their potential consequences.

Florida TaxWatch Examines Impact Fees, Effect on Housing Costs in Florida

Releases
/ Releases / 4 minutes of reading

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Impacts of Impact Fees on the Cost of Housing. Impact fees are (typically) one-time payments imposed by local governments on property developers to generate funds necessary to accommodate the impacts of new development on existing public facilities and services. FTW undertakes this independent research to better understand the effect of these fees on housing costs in Florida.

The Potential Impacts of New Tariffs on Florida’s Economy

Economic Development, Energy & Environment, Research
/ Economic Development, Energy & Environment, Research / 2 minutes of reading

On April 2nd, 2025, a universal 10 percent tariff on all countries was announced by the federal government, with a few countries facing additional reciprocal tariffs of up to 50 percent. A week after the announcement, due to intense volatility in the bond market, a 90-day suspension on the tariffs was announced, with the exception of a 145 percent tariff on certain Chinese goods.  

Florida’s Housing Market: Trends of Supply and Demand

Housing Affordability, Research
/ Housing Affordability, Research / 4 minutes of reading

As Florida continues to grow, the development of infrastructure (e.g., roads, water and wastewater systems, parks, etc.) must keep pace. In January 2023, Florida TaxWatch released “Economic Commentary: An Update on Florida’s Housing Rental Market,” which evaluated the troubles Florida has experienced with the ever-rising cost of rent. In Florida, the cost of rent has jumped by 36 percent since 2020, with much of the increase occurring in 2021 alone.

What’s Next: Hurricane Ian Recovery

Blog, Hurricane Ian, Research
/ Blog, Hurricane Ian, Research / 7 minutes of reading

On October 26, 2022, Florida TaxWatch hosted a discussion of subject matter experts to gain insight as to how Florida will overcome the impacts of Hurricane Ian as residents rebuild their homes, infrastructure, businesses, and finances. The discussion highlighted actions already taken to support residents, as well as challenges left for Florida to resolve. The Florida TaxWatch team was joined by Eve Rainey, the Executive Director of the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association; Kari Hebrank, Senior Governmental Consultant with Carlton Fields; and Fred E. Karlinsky, co-chair of the Insurance and Regulatory Transaction Practice at Greenberg Traurig. The discussion was moderated by Florida TaxWatch Senior Vice President of Research Bob Nave.

FEMA’s Disaster Deductible

Blog
/ Blog / 3 minutes of reading

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has undertaken rulemaking to consider the establishment of a deductible for its Public Assistance Program. Has Florida taken the right steps to make this new rule a favorable one?

Using Microelectronic Sensors to Continuously Monitor Vertical Infrastructure

Research
/ Research / 2 minutes of reading

This Florida TaxWatch report explores how microelectronic smart sensor networks can proactively monitor vertical infrastructure to detect issues such as structural fatigue, corrosion, or damage before they lead to catastrophic failures, as seen in the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse (98 deaths) and the 2018 Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse (6 deaths).

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