The TaxWatch Research Blog

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest briefing, Telehealth in Florida: Where We Are and What is Next analyzing the challenges and obstacles currently facing telehealth systems, healthcare providers, and patients as Florida moves through the novel coronavirus pandemic and looks to the future of care in the state. The FTW analysis identified broadband internet access, digital readiness, and reimbursement and regulatory discrepancies as the main challenges needing to be addressed through a collaborative approach by local, state, and federal government agencies, healthcare organizations, and patients to ensure a robust telehealth system capable of serving millions of Floridians.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its analysis of COVID-19’s potential impact on 2020 Taxpayer Independence Day. FTW traditionally releases its Taxpayer Independence Day report every April, recognizing the day that the year-to-date income of Floridians finally surpasses their total annual tax burden, with the assumption that every dollar earned prior to that date goes toward paying that year’s local, state, and federal tax obligations, and every dollar earned for the remainder of the year stays in the pockets of the earner.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest briefing, Florida’s Top Public Employers by County, analyzing the prevalence of public employment in Florida by county. According to TaxWatch’s research, a single government entity is the largest employer in the county in 61 of Florida’s 67 counties and at least one government entity is in the top five largest employers in every county in Florida. Public entities fall under four levels: federal, state, county and municipal governments.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, BRIDG: Growing Florida’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector, analyzing the impact of advanced manufacturing in the Sunshine State and highlighting the importance of continued public investment in high-tech initiatives such as BRIDG, which diversify the economy, create jobs, boost wages, and increase local and state tax revenues.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – An analysis completed by Florida TaxWatch (FTW) has shown that the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act” (H.R. 748), which today passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is set for President Donald Trump’s approval, will provide more than $8 billion in federal aid to Florida, including up to $3.7 billion for local governments, as the state responds to the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2020 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up and highlighted the passage of 11 legislative priorities supported by FTW during the recent session. Throughout the 2020 Legislative Session, lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate came together to pass 210 bills, including the General Appropriations Act (HB 5001), setting the state budget at a record $93.2 billion. Last week, FTW issued a statement urging the Florida Legislature to cut spending on member projects to bolster the state’s ability to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.

TALLAHASSEE, 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.

Jacksonville, Fla. – On Thursday, March 5, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Wayman Academy of the Arts principal Simaran Bakshi with the 2019-20 Principal Leadership Award. Florida TaxWatch established the Principal Leadership Awards program in 2014 to identify Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognize and reward their work, and promote their transformational practices throughout the state. Principal Bakshi is one of nine elementary, middle, and high school principals to be honored with the award this year.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest briefing, HB 7087 — Proposed Merger of SUS Institutions warning against a legislative proposal in the Florida House of Representatives to merge Florida Polytechnic University and New College of Florida with the University of Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, An Independent Assessment of the Impact of Broward College. The report looks at the comparative benefits to students who attend Broward College, how Broward College compares to other institutions of higher learning in the tri-county South Florida region, and Broward College’s economic impact and return on investment to its students and the community.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest briefing, Diverting Tourist Development Tax Revenue: Florida Shouldn’t “Eat Our Seed Corn” by Diverting Tourist Development Tax Revenue warning against continued expansion by the Florida Legislature of authorized uses for locally imposed tourist development taxes (TDT).

Panama City, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) along with leaders from Panama City and Bay County highlighted the need for community participation in the 2020 Census. As the third largest and fourth fastest growing state in the country, the upcoming Federal Census count will be more important to the Sunshine State than nearly any other state. Federal grant programs distribute $700 billion using census data. If Florida is under-represented by the count, it could cost the state millions, or even billions, of dollars. Florida’s state and local officials need to immediately start ensuring the accuracy of the count by participating in existing intergovernmental processes to verify addresses and residences. 

Panama City, Fla. – On Wednesday, February 19, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro will be joined by city and county leaders in Panama City to announce efforts that will encourage Floridians to participate in the 2020 Census.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement regarding the House Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee’s proposal to merge Florida Polytechnic University with the University of Florida and merge New College of Florida with Florida State University.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro announced the appointment of Kyle Baltuch as Vice President of Development. Mr. Baltuch joined FTW in 2014 and previously served as Economist & Director of Development.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro will be available to the media on Wednesday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m. at The Hotel Duval’s Level 8 Ballroom, eighth floor, prior to the State of the Taxpayer Dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro will be available to the media on Wednesday, January 15 at 5:30 p.m. at The Hotel Duval’s Level 8 Ballroom, eighth floor, prior to the State of the Taxpayer Dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement after the Supreme Court of Florida’s ruling on the proposed “Right to Competitive Energy Market for Customers of Investor-Owned Utilities; Allowing Energy Choice” ballot initiative.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced its 2020 Legislative Priorities for Florida Taxpayers, outlining the top issues for the Florida Legislature to take up during the upcoming 60-day legislative session. The 2020 Florida Legislative Session is set to begin on Tuesday, January 14 and conclude with adjournment sine die on Friday, March 13.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2019 edition of the How Florida Counties Compare report which compares the revenue and expenditure profiles of Florida’s 67 counties to give taxpayers an overview of how their local government stacks up with the rest of the state. With the release of the 2019 How Florida Counties Compare report, FTW has also relaunched an interactive online tool allowing users to compare two counties side-by-side.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its review of the Broward County School District's 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 ending September 30, 2019. The report includes six recommendations which will be presented and discussed by Florida TaxWatch Vice President of Research Bob Nave at the Broward County Bond Oversight Committee's Monday, December 16, 2019 meeting.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW), joined by Florida State Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) and education leaders, announced the 2019-20 Principal Leadership Award (PLA) winners and recognized nine of Florida’s most effective leaders in high-risk K-12 public schools. This year’s winning principals, three each from elementary, middle and high schools, are from Broward, Collier, Duval, Lafayette, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, and Orange counties. Florida TaxWatch established the PLA program in 2014 to recognize and reward the work of principals and promote their unique practices throughout the state.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida TaxWatch (FTW), joined by Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne), CareerSource Florida, the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Chamber Foundation, and the Florida Manufacturing & Logistics Council, today released its latest report, From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent, summarizing the findings of the second annual FloridaMakes 2019 Florida MakeMore Manufacturing Summit which was held on May 31 in Orlando, Florida. The report highlights the state’s manufacturing industry and its impact on the economy, details industry challenges and strategies proposed to confront them, and presents policy and business recommendations for continued manufacturing growth and prosperity in Florida.

Sarasota, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) along with elected leaders from the City of Sarasota highlighted the need for community participation in the 2020 Census. As the third largest and fourth fastest growing state in the country, the upcoming Federal Census count will be more important to the Sunshine State than nearly any other state. Federal grant programs distribute $700 billion using census data. If Florida is under-represented by the count, it could cost the state millions, or even billions, of dollars. Florida’s state and local officials need to immediately start ensuring the accuracy of the count by participating in existing intergovernmental processes to verify addresses and residences. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which finds that participants in this innovative program enjoy a higher quality of care, improved quality of life, and consume services at a lower cost than that of other comparable Medicaid and Medicare programs. PACE is a comprehensive, long-term care program where a single provider is responsible for all primary, acute, and long-term care services, as well as all appropriate social, restorative, and supportive services for adults 55 or older at home or in health care facilities who are certified as needing nursing home level of care.