This Florida TaxWatch report highlights a severe affordable housing crisis in Florida, where rising housing costs and a limited supply of affordable units place significant financial and social burdens on low-income families and essential workers. It advocates for the adoption of state-level tax credits to supplement federal programs, thereby incentivizing the construction of affordable housing, stimulating local economies, and reducing public costs.

St. Thomas University (STU) plays a large role in Florida’s economy, fostering workforce development and economic mobility, particularly for underrepresented communities. This Florida TaxWatch ROI report evaluates STU’s impact, highlighting its contributions to job creation, income growth, and return on investment. With record-breaking enrollment, a diverse student body, and strong financial stability, STU generates over $1.5 billion in economic output and supports more than 8,500 jobs. Every $1 spent on STU results in $21.50 of economic output.

Florida’s Behavioral Health Managing Entities (BHMEs) are at the heart of an innovative, community-based network delivering critical mental health and substance use services across the state. This report’s summary reveals how BHMEs efficiently coordinate a vast network of providers with minimal overhead—ensuring accessible, continuous care for vulnerable populations—while highlighting the risk that stagnant operational funding poses to their long-term sustainability. It ultimately recommends boosting operational funding from 3% to 5% to maintain the system’s effectiveness and guide future policy decisions.

Florida's Economic Forecast 2024–2030 offers a concise look at Florida's future economic landscape. The report, built on REC Group data, outlines how the state is expected to continue growing—approaching a nearly $1.5 trillion economy—while highlighting shifts in population, net migration, and employment. It also examines changes in GDP, personal income, and the influence of tourism, comparing these trends to broader national economic indicators. Overall, the forecast serves as a valuable guide for understanding the opportunities and challenges Florida may face as it transitions into a more normalized, post-pandemic economic environment.

Florida TaxWatch’s latest report examines the financial solvency of the State Employees' Health Insurance Trust Fund, which faces rising costs and potential deficits in the coming years. Despite a projected $652.7 million cash balance for FY 2024-25, increasing healthcare expenses could lead to a $1.5 billion deficit by FY 2028-29. The report recommends increasing employee contributions to align with those of other large employers, potentially saving the state $446 million annually. Proactive policy changes are urged to ensure the fund’s sustainability amid future budget challenges.

This report, the fifth installment in Florida TaxWatch’s five-part Social Determinants of Health series, examines how economic stability—steady employment, adequate income, food security, and housing stability—affects health outcomes. It highlights the health disparities faced by low-income families and advocates for policies promoting job access, affordable housing, and proper nutrition to improve public health across Florida.

This Florida TaxWatch report highlights drowning as a leading cause of death for children in the U.S., particularly in Florida. It stresses the importance of teaching children water safety, noting that swimming lessons can reduce drowning risk by 88%. Despite recent legislative efforts, more actions are needed, such as offering drowning prevention videos to new parents in hospitals and increasing safety measures for at-risk children, including those with autism. The report calls for continued policy efforts to prevent drowning-related tragedies and save lives.

Florida's citrus industry has declined by 90% over the past two decades due to citrus greening, hurricanes, and economic challenges. The report calls for innovative solutions, strategic investments, and support to sustain this vital industry, which is crucial to Florida's economy and heritage.

This research examines how social relationships and community dynamics profoundly influence individual health outcomes. The report reveals critical insights into the complex interactions between social support, community engagement, and personal well-being

The 2024 Florida TaxWatch Annual Report provides a comprehensive overview of the organization's achievements and efforts over the past year in promoting sound fiscal policy and government accountability across the state.

This blog post outlines the state's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton and offers tax relief suggestions to ease the economic burden on impacted residents. It emphasizes extending tax deadlines and delaying property tax payments to mitigate financial stress. The recommendations include expanding relief to all affected areas, halting audits, providing refunds for destroyed property, and encouraging local governments to reduce millage rates. Additionally, it advocates for new legislation to refund property taxes for uninhabitable commercial properties and urges Congress to pass a federal Disaster Tax Relief Act.

The 2024 Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide to Florida’s Constitutional Amendments analyzes six proposed amendments on the November 5, 2024, ballot. It provides a summary, fiscal impact, and recommendation for each amendment. These amendments cover topics such as partisan school board elections, a constitutional right to hunt and fish, legalizing recreational marijuana, abortion rights, inflation adjustments to homestead exemptions, and the repeal of public campaign financing. Florida TaxWatch offers recommendations based on thorough analysis, urging voters to use the guide to make informed decisions.