The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the opportunity- and the need- to make telehealth as accessible as practicable. Telehealth helps reach audiences that may otherwise be unable to access care and provides the opportunity to improve patient care, treatment, education, and services, and ultimately bend the cost curve.

One only needs to look at the experience of other states that have reduced or eliminated their tourism marketing efforts to understand what will happen if VISIT FLORIDA is eliminated. States like Colorado and Washington that have drastically cut or eliminated their investment in travel promotion have experienced immediate and long-term negative economic impacts. Destinations that fail to invest consistently in travel promotion will see visitors, jobs, and tax revenues go elsewhere. Should Florida choose to follow suit, tourism and the economic activity and taxes it generates will certainly decline.

My name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for more than 40 years, has worked hard to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of Florida government and promote a fair and equitable system of taxation.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) is releasing a comprehensive assessment of broadband access in Florida, as well as proposed strategies for expansion in unserved areas. In the report, entitled Closing the Digital Divide: The Expansion of Broadband Internet Service to Unserved Areas of the State, the trusted taxpayer research institute for over 40 years also emphasizes the need for fast, reliable, and affordable broadband Internet service in Floridians’ daily lives.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch is releasing a policy brief entitled The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of Education and Training Beyond High School in Florida. It is the first installment in a two-part series, examining educational achievement rates across Florida’s demographic populations to identify current achievement gaps and their impacts on the state economy.

We understand the frustration that business and state leaders are trying to address- local ordinances that target businesses and prevent employers from thriving- but we want to caution that ultimately it is the taxpayer that will be left paying the bill and dealing with the potential unintended consequences. Increased expenditures from the exposure will translate into costs for the average taxpayer, dealt with in either of two ways, increased taxes and fees to cover projected legal costs, or a reduction in services provided to communities.

The pandemic is not over. The strain on Florida’s health care system has lessened but it is still significant. The appearance of COVID-19 variants further highlights the need for an extension. The potential still exists for runaway litigation would have a devastating impact on Floridians across the board but especially our health care providers. Safeguards are essential to ensure that healthcare providers that are working hard to comply with public health directives or protective measures are protected from civil liability.

Prepared remarks for Florida TaxWatch Chairman George S. LeMieux, Florida TaxWatch State of the Taxpayer, 2022 – AC Hotel Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol, January 12, 2022

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released a list of taxpayer priorities for the 2022 Legislative Session, which begins next Tuesday, January 11 and adjourns on Friday, March 11. The list reflects a range of issues that the independent, nonpartisan research institute dedicated to serving as “the eyes and ears of Florida’s taxpayers” has examined and will continue to closely monitor during the upcoming session.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, Dominic Calabro addresses the Governor, Senate President Wilton Simpson, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls regarding prison closures in Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released 2022 Economic Preview: Settling into a New Normal, the taxpayer research institute’s latest economic commentary. It cautions that, while several estimates seem to signal robust economic growth in the year ahead, Floridians must be prepared to adapt to nuances in the labor market’s recovery, such as rising inflation rates resulting from supply chain issues and other workforce-related complications.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released 2021 How Florida Compares: Taxes, which includes an analysis of Florida’s state and local tax rates, tax collections, and other government revenues and compares the data to the 49 other states and the national average. The report is part of the taxpayer research institute’s larger How Florida Compares series, providing neutral, nonpartisan information intended to help Floridians better understand their state. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Housing in Florida, the sixth installment in the taxpayer research institute’s COVID-19 Legacy Series. The report explains the record price growth the housing market experienced in the past year and presents considerations for the long-term impact in Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Navigating Federal Pandemic Relief: Following Billions in Stimulus Dollars, Where Do We Go From Here? The report presents an analysis of the dollars allocated to Florida for the six stimulus packages Congress has passed since March 2020 and offers recommendations to help the state take full advantage of the federal funding that has not yet been spent or the additional funds that it will receive in the near future.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Who Knows What? An Independent Analysis of the Potential Effects of Consumer Data Privacy Legislation in Florida. Building on a previous FTW briefing, the report examines experience data from existing consumer data privacy laws across the country to generate an estimate of compliance and litigation costs businesses would face with the implementation of consumer data privacy legislation in Florida.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released 2022 Legislature Should Reauthorize the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund Program, a report wherein the government watchdog contends the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) tax refund program – which expired on June 30, 2020 – should be reauthorized by the Florida Legislature in 2022, enabling the state to directly compete with Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, and others to attract companies in high value-added industries that are considering settling or expanding their operations.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Red Tide Mitigation Using Southern Hard Clams, a report analyzing the reintroduction of southern hard clam beds as an innovative and environmentally sustainable approach to mitigating the harmful impacts of red tides along the western Gulf Coast of Florida.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Postsecondary Training in Florida, the fourth installment in the taxpayer research institute’s COVID-19 Legacy Series. The report introduces the distinctly new workforce that is emerging from the pandemic and explains how postsecondary training and education, a proven driver of economic mobility, is also evolving in order to be responsive and adaptable to inevitable, sudden change.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below regarding the Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which begins Sat., July 31 and ends Mon., Aug. 9, is to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Florida’s Workforce, the third installment in the taxpayer research institute’s COVID-19 Legacy Series. The report highlights current workforce trends and the long-term ramifications for Florida’s future talent pipeline and workforce development, as well as the state’s economic growth and fiscal sustainability.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Supply Chain Resiliency in the Face of Economic Disruption: Connex Florida as a Platform for Resilience, which analyzes the importance and influence of supply chains in today’s economy, highlighting the impact that major disruptions – like the unprecedented global pandemic – can have, while also presenting Connex Florida as a practical solution to supply chain resiliency going forward.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2021-22 State Budget, providing an overview of Florida’s $101.7 billion FY2021-22 State Budget, which was approved by the Florida Legislature, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 2, 2021, and took effect today, July 1, 2021.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below regarding the Freedom Week Sales Tax Holiday, which begins Thurs., July 1 and ends Wed., July 7, is to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro. To learn more and/or schedule an interview with President and CEO Calabro, please contact Aly Coleman ataly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040.

Tallahassee, Fla – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, Addressing the Medicaid Funding Gap Through a Directed Payment Program (DPP), which evaluates the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s Medicaid program and explores the use of Medicaid DPP as an option to minimize the gap between a hospital’s cost of care for Medicaid patients and the reimbursement the hospital actually receives.