Florida TaxWatch and Florida Council of 100 Announce 2023 Government Productivity Awards Winners

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, during a ceremony held in Tallahassee, Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Council of 100 jointly announced the winners of the 2023 Government Productivity Awards, a program designed to inspire, reward, and recognize enterprising state employees for innovative and cost-effective accomplishments. Formerly known as the TaxWatch Productivity Awards, the Government Productivity Awards – presented by Kyra Solutions, Inc. – honored 10 state agencies and universities that took the initiative to improve services and increase efficiencies, while also serving as good stewards of their fellow Floridians’ hard-earned tax dollars. In total, their efforts will save taxpayers over $200 million, contributing to an estimated $12 billion in total savings since the program was established in 1989.

In Florida, government productivity and innovation are the hallmark of outstanding taxpayer excellence and incredible public stewardship. In addition to efficiency, government productivity is the primary reason Florida is where government performance thrives, as evidenced by the state’s AAA bond rating, booming economy, and prosperous workforce.

Kyra Solutions, Inc. Chairmen, CEO, and Founder and Florida TaxWatch Board Chairman Piyush Patel said, “The Government Productivity Awards is a one-of-a-kind program that functions to recognize, reward, and replicate the success of Florida’s most innovative employees. In both my roles at Kyra Solutions – the presenting sponsor – and Florida TaxWatch, I would like to congratulate all the outstanding 2023 award winners and thank them for their dedicated service to the Sunshine State.”

Florida Council of 100 President Michael Simas said, “Florida’s business community applauds this year’s Government Productivity Awards nominees and winners, as well as all civil servants who find creative ways to make government more efficient and effective. As the most entrepreneurial state in the nation, Florida is a place where innovation thrives equally in the public and private sectors.”

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “Florida TaxWatch is honored to recognize, reward, and replicate initiatives that promote efficiency and productivity at the state level. With the annual Government Productivity Awards, we seek to showcase best practices from across the state, while also inspiring continuous improvement within the public sector. And this year was no exception – we were blown away by the winning employees who demonstrated diligence, ingenuity, and innovative thinking with their work. Their cost-effective accomplishments benefit all Floridians and will motivate future government professionals to strive for excellence.”

2023 Government Productivity Award Winners:

• Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Modernization of Petroleum/Gas Pump Inspections
• Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Developed Robotic Process Automation Services
• Florida Department of Children and Families, Streamlined Disaster Food Assistance Program
• Florida Department of Corrections, Community Corrections Mobile Probation Unit
• Florida Department of Health, Automated Processing of Electronic Syphilis Laboratory Results
• Florida Department of Revenue, Modernized DOR’s Image Management System
• Florida Department of Transportation, Reduced Costs by Improving Financial Reports & Workshops
• Florida Department of Transportation, Septic-to-Sewer Conversion to Eliminate Stormwater Ponds
• Florida State University, Implemented a Zero-Waste Data Center Facility (The Sustainable Green Team)
• University of Florida, FPREN: Florida’s Public Safety Partner

To learn more about the Government Productivity Awards program, please click here.

About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for more than forty years and the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.