/ Categories: Research, Annual Reports

2022 Annual Report

It is the mission of Florida TaxWatch to provide the taxpayers of Florida and public officials with high-quality, independent research and analysis of issues related to state and local government taxation, expenditures, policies, and programs. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on residents and businesses.

In 2022 Florida TaxWatch doubled down on guiding one of the world’s biggest economies through recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Each step of the way, Florida TaxWatch was at the forefront of Florida’s Recovery, monitoring developments in another year of unprecedented state budget growth.

Last year, The TaxWatch COVID-19 Taxpayer Task Force recommendations became the blueprint for a legislative session that saw a number of long-term Taxwatch issues handled in one bill: E-Fairness, the Business Rent Tax, and unemployment compensation fund restoration.

A significant amount of Florida TaxWatch research in 2022 focused on the everyday lives of Floridians, tackling issues in data privacy, workforce development, tax administration, education, and manufacturing.

Documents to download

Previous Article What’s Next: Hurricane Ian Recovery
Next Article Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report
Print
3989
0Upvote 0Downvote
«September 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
25262728
Government Efficiency Should Not Be Something We Do Every Four Years

Government Efficiency Should Not Be Something We Do Every Four Years

Florida has proven ideas, demonstrated wins, and active tools; now it needs permanence. By embedding efficiency into the annual budget cycle—backed by transparent tracking and regular reporting—the state can convert sporadic initiatives into sustained savings and better service delivery for taxpayers.

Read more
293031
12
Apportionment Changes Amid Policy Proposals

Apportionment Changes Amid Policy Proposals

Apportionment Changes Amid Policy Proposals explains how Florida’s 2020 Census undercount—about 750,000 residents (3.48%)—reduced the state’s political representation and likely cost billions of dollars in federal funding over the decade. The report examines what Florida stood to gain if the count had been accurate and how proposed changes to who is counted could affect future apportionment.

Read more
34
The Taxpayer's Guide to Florida's FY2025-26 State Budget

The Taxpayer's Guide to Florida's FY2025-26 State Budget

Florida TaxWatch’s The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2025-26 State Budget explains the Legislature’s $114.8 billion spending plan (after $376 million in line-item vetoes)—a 3.2% decrease from FY2024-25—while maintaining $12.6 billion in reserves. General Revenue (GR) spending rises by $556 million, and the recurring GR base increases by $1.9 billion, even as total positions fall to 111,886 (-1,871).

Read more
567
8910
Trends in the Cost of Construction Materials

Trends in the Cost of Construction Materials

Construction is a cornerstone of Florida's economy, contributing $97 billion (5.7 percent) to the state's GDP in 2024. However, rising material costs are presenting significant challenges to the industry, impacting everything from large-scale infrastructure projects to residential home building and affordability for Florida taxpayers. This report from Florida TaxWatch examines the national and statewide trends driving these price increases and their potential consequences.

Read more
11121314
1516171819
Options to Eliminate or Reduce the Property Tax Burden on Florida Homeowners

Options to Eliminate or Reduce the Property Tax Burden on Florida Homeowners

Florida's property tax system is at a critical juncture, with total levies surging by 108% over the last decade, far exceeding the combined rate of population growth and inflation. This rapid increase, generating $55 billion in 2024 for local governments, has intensified the financial strain on homeowners and raised fundamental questions about the nature of property ownership, which currently resembles a form of "perpetual rent" to the government. This report from Florida TaxWatch analyzes the current landscape and explores five distinct options for reform, ranging from the complete elimination of property taxes for homeowners to more immediate statutory changes aimed at increasing transparency and accountability.

Read more
2021
22232425262728
293012345

Archive