The TaxWatch Research Archives

Unemployment Rate Is Not The Whole Story

Wednesday, March 23, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

One key metric that is widely overlooked in the unemployment rate discussion is the labor force participation rate (LFPR), which measures the percentage of the total population aged 16 and above who are currently employed or are unemployed and actively seeking employment. While overlooked, the LFPR is one of the most important metrics to understanding the overall landscape of the job markets.

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2016 Budget Turkey Watch Report

Thursday, March 17, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Each year, the Budget Turkey Report consists of only a very small percentage of the state budget and this year represented just over 0.1 percent. The $82.3 billion budget passed by the Florida House and Senate on March 11, 2016 contains 143 appropriations items worth $104.9 million qualifying as Budget Turkeys.

2016 How Florida Compares: Taxes

Wednesday, March 9, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Have you ever wondered how Florida’s taxes stack up against the taxes in other states? If so, this report is for you. The annual Florida TaxWatch How Florida Compares: Taxes report ranks Florida’s state and local taxes against those levied around the nation.

Pumping Savings into the Economy

Thursday, February 25, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

There are very few products or services that impact, in one way or another, nearly every consumer in the United States. One product that does is gasoline. This Economic Commentary focuses on the impact of the reduction in oil prices on the U.S. and Florida consumers.

Q2 2016 Broward Schools SMART Program Report Review

Wednesday, February 24, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Presented to the Bond Oversight Committee on February 25, 2016, this report examines the SMART program quarterly report for Q2.

Welcoming the World

Monday, February 22, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Tourism is vital to the economy of Florida, and with the recovery of the world economy, international travel across the world is reaching record highs. This, coupled with data showing the major positive impact international tourists have on economies, provides evidence that Florida should expand its efforts when it comes to attracting foreign visitors to the state.

Budget Watch - Proposed House and Senate Budgets for FY2016-17 are $1 Billion Apart

Sunday, February 21, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

The House and Senate passed their respective state budgets for FY2016-17 with four weeks remaining in the 2016 Session. They will now go into the budget conference process to negotiate the differences. Conference meetings could start as early as this week (the week of February 22).

A Catalyst for Growth

Wednesday, February 17, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

This analysis finds that Florida’s competitive tax climate and welcoming weather entice businesses to our state, but Florida must provide targeted incentive packages that will help create high-paying jobs in the Sunshine State as we compete with other states for domestic and global business.

Building Florida's High-Tech Manufacturing Sector

Sunday, February 7, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

As the global manufacturing industry shifts away from classically portrayed steel and car plants to a modernized approach of high-tech manufacturing; companies, countries, and states find themselves looking for a way to best position themselves to benefit from the future of manufacturing. Florida finds itself in a unique position to capitalize on an existing project that could help the state become a world leader in high-tech manufacturing for years to come.

Meeting Florida's Transportation Investment Needs

Wednesday, February 3, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Florida continues to grow and is now the nation’s third largest state. After a slowdown during the Great Recession, Florida is on the rise again, and the state will add more than four million new residents by 2030. This report examines the expected needs of the transportation system across the state.

2015 Annual Report

Sunday, January 31, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

Bridging the Gap Between Taxpayers and Their Government

Predatory Public Records Requests

Wednesday, January 27, 2016[EasyDNNnews:EndIf:Event] / [EasyDNNnewsLocalizedText:Categories]: [EasyDNNnews:Categories]

This report examines abuses of the state's Public Records Act, focusing on predatory practices that take advantage of local governments, and use the power of litigation to profit off of the taxpayers.