Florida TaxWatch Releases 2019 How Florida Counties Compare Report
Offers interactive county comparison tool
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.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “Florida TaxWatch is proud to announce today the release of the 2019 How Florida Counties Compare report and relaunch of our interactive online county comparison tool. The spending and taxing decisions of county governments have major impacts on the daily lives of every family across our state and it is important for all Floridians to understand where their hard-earned dollars are being spent. We present this report as a resource for Florida’s taxpayers, policymakers, and elected officials as they continue to make critical fiscal and policy decisions influencing the future prosperity of our state and its residents.”
Local taxing and spending are a major part of Florida government operations. More than half of all Florida government revenue (53.1 percent) is raised at the local level, one of the highest shares in the nation. Florida’s 66 county governments (plus Jacksonville’s consolidated government), more than 400 municipal governments, and approximately 1,000 independent special districts spend nearly $80 billion annually.
The report presents the most recently available data for each county’s property taxes, other taxes and fees, county and municipal revenues, county and municipal expenditures, and other related measures. While the2019 How Florida Counties Compare report compares the magnitude and makeup of Florida’s local governments’ fiscal operations, it does not attempt to compare or evaluate levels of service.
The 2019 How Florida Counties Compare report is available to view or download online here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for forty years, 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 citizens and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. 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 citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.