Florida is Still a Donor State

The federal government plays an important role in helping Florida pay for the government services it provides, as federal funds make up 34 percent of the current state budget. But Florida gets much less from Uncle Sam than most states. Even with Florida’s relatively low level of state taxing and spending, there are 28 states that receive a larger proportion of total state revenue in federal funds.

Over the years, Florida TaxWatch has produced several reports examining how Florida fares, relative to other states, in receiving grants and aid from the federal government. Consistent with our past research, this new analysis shows Florida continues to receive far less than its fair share of federal grant dollars.

In 1998, Florida ranked 49th among the 50 states in terms of federal grants received per capita. A 2011 report showed Florida had increased its relative share of federal aid slightly, rising to 48th.

Watch this short video about the report:

Documents to download

Previous Article Discretion on the Bench
Next Article Budget Watch - Projected Shortfall Requires Action
Print
13041
0Upvote 0Downvote
«August 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2829
The Census Undercount Limits Florida’s Political Influence

The Census Undercount Limits Florida’s Political Influence

The Census Undercount Hurts Florida’s Political Influence, demonstrates that the 2020 Census missed about 750,000 Floridians — 3.48 % of the population. Correcting that error with U.S. Census Bureau methodology shows the undercount shifted three U.S. House seats nationally: Colorado, Minnesota, and Rhode Island would each lose a seat, while Florida, Tennessee, and Texas would each gain one — raising Florida’s delegation to 29 seats instead of 28.

Read more
3031123
45
Florida TaxWatch 2025 Legislative Session Wrap-Up: Extended Session Edition - Includes Final Budget, Tax Package, and Vetoes

Florida TaxWatch 2025 Legislative Session Wrap-Up: Extended Session Edition - Includes Final Budget, Tax Package, and Vetoes

Florida TaxWatch's 2025 Legislative Session Wrap-up Report provides a comprehensive analysis of Florida's extended legislative session that concluded June 16 with a $115.1 billion budget and $2.0 billion tax package. The Governor signed the budget on June 30 and issued $376 million in line-item vetoes, resulting in a net budget of $114.8 billion while maintaining strong fiscal reserves of $12.6 billion.

Read more
67
Hospice and Palliative Care

Hospice and Palliative Care

Florida's aging population is driving sustained demand for cost-effective, patient-centered care across the continuum. Palliative care—non-curative, interdisciplinary support for patients with serious but often nonterminal conditions—improves quality of life and can lower overall costs when introduced early in the disease course. Hospice provides end-of-life care once a clinician certifies a terminal prognosis; in Florida, hospice providers operate under a Certificate of Need (CON) program that authorizes new entrants only when unmet need is demonstrated through twice-yearly batching cycles.

Read more
8910
1112
Update on the Implementation of the Live Local Act

Update on the Implementation of the Live Local Act

Florida continues to face a severe affordability gap in housing. In 2022, 35% of households were cost-burdened, and by 2024 the state was short more than 323,000 affordable units for households at 0–30% of Area Median Income (AMI). The Legislature’s 2023 Live Local Act—amended in 2024 and 2025—was designed to accelerate supply by combining incentives (notably property-tax exemptions) with strong preemption and streamlined approvals for qualifying projects. The law requires that at least 40% of units in eligible projects remain affordable for 30 years, and it allows multifamily development in commercial, industrial, or mixed-use zones without rezoning, subject to administrative review.

Read more
1314
2025 Principal Leadership Awards Roundtable Summary

2025 Principal Leadership Awards Roundtable Summary

Principals are second only to teachers in their impact on student learning—and in Florida’s highest-need schools, effective leadership is the catalyst for outsize gains. Florida TaxWatch convened a roundtable on May 14, 2025 with the latest Principal Leadership Awards (PLA) winners to surface the strategies behind sustained improvement. Drawing on data-driven selection (FL-VAM) and firsthand practice, this summary distills what works and why it matters for schools serving predominantly at-risk students.

Read more
151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
1234567

Archive