The TaxWatch Research Blog

The TaxWatch Research Blog is a forum where our research staff can address topics and issues in a short format. Keep an eye on this space during Legislative Session for frequent posts making sense of the activity at the Capitol. 

Will Voters Raise Taxes on Non-Homestead Property?

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If you own non-homestead property, there is a chance you will be seeing a significant tax increase on that property in 2019.

Cruise Industry Anchors Florida Tourism

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The booming cruise industry is a significant driver of the state’s job market and, according to a recent report, is directly responsible for 138,300 Florida jobs.

Principals Are the Key to Turning Around Failing Schools

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The Principal Autonomy Pilot Program Initiative (PAPPI) is a voluntary program in seven school districts that grants participating principals greater authority and autonomy.

Speaker Corcoran's New Rules Spotlight Budget Turkeys

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The new Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives wants to shake things up. Richard Corcoran began his new role with a bang, bringing forward new House rules that include changes aimed at limiting the influence of lobbyists on the legislative process.

The 2016 Quality Counts Rankings Put Florida in Context

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For 2016, Florida received an overall score of 72.4 points, a grade of C-, and an overall rank of 30th.

St Pete Eyes a Renewable Future

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St. Petersburg has committed to a cutting edge plan to become the first city in Florida to garner all its energy from renewable resources.

Lack of a Seminole Gaming Compact Proving Very Costly to Florida

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The Legislature did not ratify a new Seminole Gaming Compact last session and as a result, the state has already lost nearly $250 million and could lose out on another $2 billion over the next seven years.

Criminal Justice: Policy In Progress

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With the 2017 Legislative Session drawing closer, it is important to identify topics and bills and that have gained significant traction in recent years but haven’t come to fruition.

The "He-Said, She-Said" of Medicaid Managed Care

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The Senate Appropriation Subcommittee on Health and Human Services learned just how expensive getting old is, particularly when nursing home care is required.

Apples and Oranges: Gender & Justice Programs

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Justice-involved women and girls are often treated through programs and services targeted towards the larger population: men and boys

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

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Could it be that the medical model can only take us so far along our road to better health? Are there alternate routes we should explore?

How Attractive is Florida's Business Tax Climate?

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Like beauty, the attractiveness of a state’s business climate is in the eye of the beholder. There are many measures of states’ tax and business climates.

Sentencing Doesn't Require Psychic Powers

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As crime in Florida continues to decline and state prison populations continue to exceed 100,000 inmates, policymakers and practitioners are all seeking to mitigate corrections cost by opting for less costly, but just as effective, alternatives.

ARNPs Help Florida's Patients, and its Economy

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An overwhelming body of evidence shows that Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) provide safe and effective care at a reduced cost.

Zoonoses Uncaged!

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Given our relationships with animals, would it surprise you to know that even mundane exposure to pets, livestock, wildlife, and insects has the potential to result in a zoonotic infection, and that there are currently 868 known zoonotic diseases?

Presidential Candidates Need to Get Serious About the Federal Debt

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With tomorrow being Election Day, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have been ramping up their campaign efforts to swing voters into their camps. Both have been traveling to vital battleground states, bringing along their economic messages that they hope can turn out voters to the polls.

Flu IQ - Go ahead and take a shot

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Across the nation, influenza infections result in tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths annually.  It is estimated that over 1.3 million Floridians will catch the flu this year, resulting in 2.3 million lost days of work and $307 million in lost productivity.

Broward Bond Oversight Committee Settles In

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If the August 29, 2016 meeting is any indication, the Broward Bond Oversight Committee is getting more and more comfortable in its role of overseeing the implementation of the $800 million general obligation bond program approved by Broward voters to renovate and improve Broward’s public schools. The issues raised and questions asked by Committee members reflected a thorough and careful review of reports provided by District staff and by Florida TaxWatch.

Halloween Not So Spooky for the Economy

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Halloween conjures images of witches, ghouls and goblins and can be a scary sight for little ones. But the holiday isn’t so spooky for the economy as consumers purchase billions of dollars of costumes, decorations and candy. In 2015, more than 157 million Americans celebrated the holiday, spending nearly $7 billion.
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