The TaxWatch Research Blog

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida Voters Continue to Say Yes to Proposed Tax Increases, a briefing examining the trend of Florida voters approving tax increases at the local level. This report builds on FTW’s February 2021 analysis, A Decade of Self-Taxing, which found that Floridians increased their own taxes 142 times since 2010. The new report focuses on voting patterns in the 2021 and 2022 elections, including voters’ propensity for authorizing county-wide sales and property tax increases, and more.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) is releasing an economic commentary entitled An Update on Florida’s Housing Rental Market. The report builds on previous FTW commentaries, Beyond the Pandemic: Long-term Changes and Challenges for Housing in Florida (October 2021) and Too Expensive to Rent: Florida’s Rental Market and Eviction Moratorium(March 2022), to examine the current strain on Florida’s rental market and the resulting price growth. FTW notes that the circumstances, which are being experienced across the state, are the consequence of Florida’s significant population growth, a decade of slow housing construction, and a post-COVID-19 housing boom.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released How Florida Compares: Taxes 2022, a comprehensive analysis of state and local tax rates, tax collections, and other government revenues for all 50 states, in addition to historical information for Florida. The annual report is part of the taxpayer research institute’s larger How Florida Compares series, providing balanced, nonpartisan information intended to help Floridians better understand where their state ranks in terms of taxes when compared to the 49 other states and the national average. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, in partnership with Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, and FloridaMakes, Florida TaxWatch is releasing a report entitled Producing More Talent: MakeMore Manufacturing Summit 2022 Summary Report. The report summarizes presentations made at the fourth annual MakeMore Manufacturing Summit in October 2022, themed “Producing More Talent,” as well as focus group discussions held prior to the Summit among representatives from a variety of companies across the state that depend on a strong manufacturing workforce. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Importance of Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grants. In the report, FTW underscores the financial and economic benefits of the EASE Grant Program, which was established by the Florida Legislature in 1979 to offset declining student enrollment at private colleges and universities.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Using Public-Private Partnerships and Public-Public Partnerships to Meet the Growing Demands for Public Infrastructure, a report highlighting the opportunity for increased private sector investment in Florida’s critical public infrastructure. FTW also outlines recommendations for facilitating such investment, drawing from well-planned and successfully executed infrastructure-related public-private partnerships (PPPs) and public-public partnerships (PUPs) in Florida and other states.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 5, 2023 – following the recent announcement of all 2022 Florida TaxWatch (FTW) Productivity Award winners – FTW will present 18 awards to individual and team winners from District Four and District Six of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Florida Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 4-A: Disaster Relief, which occurred today and will provide more than $750 million in financial relief for localities and residents impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. To learn more and/or schedule an interview with a FTW representative, please contact Aly Coleman Raschid at aly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced its 2022-23 executive officers and seven new board of trustees members who will contribute to the independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit taxpayer research institute’s efforts to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. These men and women, who hold prominent positions within highly regarded organizations across a variety of industries, were elected at FTW’s Annual Meeting earlier in December and will serve three-year terms. They join an esteemed executive committee and 89 returning board members.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released A Key to Overcoming Disasters: Complete Census Data Reinforces Resiliency, a timely commentary highlighting the value of census data throughout the planning, response, and recovery stages of a disaster. The report also points to the estimated 750,000 Florida residents who were not counted in the 2020 Census, leaving up to $2.1 billion per year on the table for the next 10 years – federal funding that could have supported Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced the winners of the 2022 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards (TPA) program, which, for over three decades, has recognized and rewarded the hard work and dedication of state employees who have taken the initiative to improve services and increase efficiencies, while also serving as good stewards of their fellow Floridians’ hard-earned tax dollars. This year, after receiving hundreds of nominations, FTW will present approximately 148 awards to thousands of individual employees and large teams from 17 state agencies and four universities across Florida. In total, their efforts will save taxpayers over $818 million, contributing to an estimated $12 billion in total savings since the program was established.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon today announces a $250,000 donation to support small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian. Verizon is partnering with Collaboratory, a local non-profit community-problem solving organization in Southwest Florida, and Florida TaxWatch, a trusted non-profit organization that serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of Florida taxpayers and promotes economic development across the state, to create $10,000 grants to provide small businesses in the hardest-hit areas of Florida with critical relief.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, said, “Our thoughts are with the first responders, volunteers, elected officials, and Florida families whose lives will never be the same due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian. As our state continues its rescue and recovery efforts in the many weeks and months ahead, we must remember to also look toward tomorrow.

“This year, people all across the country encountered record high costs at the gas pump, but fortunately for Floridians, they will receive some much-needed relief throughout the month of October with the new Motor Fuel Tax Relief holiday. Florida TaxWatch thanks Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for implementing this reduction, which is made possible by the state’s unprecedented level of reserves, as these unallocated dollars will fund investments that are usually subsidized by the gas tax."  Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The following statement is to be attributed to Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, in response to Governor DeSantis’ announcement of his Family-Focused Tax Relief proposal for the 2023 Legislative Session.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Thurs., Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. (EST), Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will hold an in-person and virtual press conference announcing the winners of the 2022 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Award (TPA) program, which is co-sponsored by the state of Florida and the Florida Council of 100, and presented by Kyra Solutions, Inc. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody will also accept the TPA “Agency of the Year” award and offer remarks at the presentation.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its review of the Broward County School District's Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovations and Technology (SMART) Program in its report Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report Review for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2022.   

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released the 2022 Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide to Florida’s Constitutional Amendments. In the guide, the taxpayer research institute and government watchdog provides an independent analysis and voting recommendation for the three proposed constitutional amendments that have been placed on the 2022 general election ballot by joint resolutions of the Florida Legislature. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released Building a Culture of Success: What Effective Principals Do – The 2022 Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Awards Roundtable Discussion Summary and Findings. The report provides a comprehensive summary of a May 2022 roundtable discussion with 10 distinguished principals who were recognized through the government watchdog’s 2021-22 Principal Leadership Awards, an annual program that identifies and rewards educational leaders who are creating meaningful change in their K-12 schools across the state. During the conversation, the principals offered their thoughts on the philosophies, strategies, and leadership required to bolster the achievement of at-risk students.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Tool Time sales tax holiday beginning Saturday, September 3 and ending Friday, September 9, 2022. To learn more and/or schedule an interview with President and CEO Calabro, please contact Aly Coleman at aly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida Workforce Update, a commentary on the shifts in Florida’s workforce since the COVID-19 pandemic. It outlines the status of remote work, women in the labor force, and the “Great Resignation,” a term coined in May 2021 to describe unusually high quit rates, or the number of employees leaving a job by their own volition as a percentage of total employment. Quit rates typically have an inverse relationship with unemployment levels, as these employees are not leaving the workforce, but rather transitioning from one job to another, often a better job.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The following statement is to be attributed to Dominic M. Calabro, President, and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, in response to the findings from the General Revenue Estimating Conference (GREC) held yesterday, Tues., Aug. 16, 2022.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Are Floridians Ready to Go Back to School? Not Without More Teachers... The report presents an analysis of Florida’s pervasive teacher shortage, outlining potential causes, from compensation to mental health, and the significant ramifications for schools and students. It also summarizes action taken at both the state and local level to combat this crisis and bolster the teacher workforce. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released a briefing entitled How Childcare Impacts the State’s Economy and Shapes Florida’s Workforce. The report presents an analysis of the impact of accessible childcare on Florida’s workforce participation and overall economic success.

The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Back-to-School sales tax holiday beginning Monday, July 25 and ending Sunday, August 7, 2022. To learn more and/or schedule an interview with President and CEO Calabro, please contact Aly Coleman at aly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040.