/ Categories: Research, Census, Taxpayer Guide

An Accurate Count in the 2020 Census is Vital for Florida

Billions of Dollars are at Stake

It is 2020, so it is time for the next United States Census, as required by the Constitution. The first census was in 1790--George Washington was President and Thomas Jefferson served as supervisor of the census. The main reason for the de- cennial census, conducted every 10 years, is to apportion representation in Congress.

But the value of the census extends far beyond that. It also helps determine the distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in annual federal program funding to the states. It is also used for planning and decision-making throughout the public and private sectors.

Florida is now the third largest state in the nation with 21.5 million people and one of the fastest growing—adding 640 people a day. Florida has a history of being undercounted in the census and an undercount in this census will negatively impact the state for another ten years.

See report below, or visit the Census page for more information!

Documents to download

Previous Article Budget Watch - General Revenue Estimates Increased by $392 Million
Next Article Diverting Tourist Development Tax Revenue
Print
5267
0Upvote 0Downvote
«February 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
26
Florida’s Space Coast is Well-Positioned to Dominate the Future of the Aerospace Industry

Florida’s Space Coast is Well-Positioned to Dominate the Future of the Aerospace Industry

For more than 60 years, Florida’s Space Coast—anchored by Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS)—has served as a premier gateway to space, driving tourism, high-tech jobs, and statewide economic output. After major federal program shifts in the 2010s led to significant regional job losses, Florida’s modern commercial-space resurgence—supported by Space Florida’s strategy to diversify the supply chain, modernize infrastructure, and attract private capital—has positioned the Space Coast to lead the next era of aerospace growth.

Read more
27282930311
2345
New General Revenue Forecast Adds $572.5 Million for the Next Budget

New General Revenue Forecast Adds $572.5 Million for the Next Budget

The General Revenue (GR) Estimating Conference met on January 23 to adopt Florida’s latest GR forecast—the estimate that tells lawmakers how much is available for the next state budget. The updated forecast adds $572.5 million to the amount available for the upcoming budget year, but while meaningful, it amounts to only about one percent of total GR collections.

Read more
678
910
Clearwater’s Plan to Establish Its Own Municipal Electric Utility Puts Taxpayers at Risk

Clearwater’s Plan to Establish Its Own Municipal Electric Utility Puts Taxpayers at Risk

Florida TaxWatch examines the City of Clearwater’s plan to acquire Duke Energy Florida’s electric distribution assets and establish a municipal electric utility (MEU) in response to concerns over electric rates and service quality. While the City’s feasibility study projects modest short-term rate savings, Florida TaxWatch finds those projections rely on unrealistic assumptions—most notably an “overnight” conversion that ignores the likely decade-long, costly eminent domain process required to acquire Duke’s assets. Drawing on national municipalization case studies, the report highlights high failure rates, underestimated acquisition and severance costs, loss of economies of scale, and substantial financial exposure for taxpayers. Florida TaxWatch concludes that the proposed MEU represents a high-risk endeavor with limited upside and recommends the City pursue a renegotiated franchise agreement with Duke Energy Florida as a more prudent path forward.

Read more
1112131415
1617181920
2025 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit: Summary Report

2025 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit: Summary Report

Manufacturing is one of Florida’s leading industries and a key driver of job growth and economic strength, contributing more than $80 billion to Florida’s annual GDP. With more than 27,000 manufacturers—most of them small businesses with fewer than 20 employees—Florida’s manufacturing sector supports more than 430,000 high-wage jobs, with average salaries exceeding $78,000.

Read more
2122
2324252627281
2345678

Archive