The TaxWatch Research Archives

A Billion Dollars and Growing: Why Prison Bonding is Tougher on Florida's Taxpayers Than on Crime

Thursday, March 31, 2011 / Categories: Research, Corrections/Judicial

Florida's prison population is growing while public safety is diminishing. This report outlines the reasons for this discrepancy and shows how other states are dealing with similar issues.

Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2011

Thursday, March 31, 2011 / Categories: Research, Taxes

"This symbolic date assumes that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local tax obligations. "

Florida Taxpayers Spend Millions Annually on Communications and Legislative Affairs Staff in State Agencies

Thursday, March 31, 2011 / Categories: Research

This report delves into the salary structure and varied job titles of communications workers and legislative affairs employees.

Summary of the Florida TaxWatch April 2011 Briefing: Benefits of the Sunshine State's Investment in the Solar Renewable Energy Sector

Thursday, March 31, 2011 / Categories: Research, Energy & Environment, Transportation

Florida's window of opportunity to become a leader in solar and renewable energy manufacturing is rapidly closing. This briefing details the status quo and what needs to be done to make the state competitive with those states that have done more in the clean energy field.

Benefits of the Sunshine State's Investment in the Solar Renewable Energy Sector

Thursday, March 31, 2011 / Categories: Research, Energy & Environment, Transportation

"Putting the 'sun' in Sunshine State, this report examines steps already taken in solar energy and what impact further steps would have on the Florida economic outlook. "

State Competitiveness Indices & Rankings: What National Rankings Tell Us about Florida's Competitiveness

Monday, February 28, 2011 / Categories: Research, Economic Development

"From corporate tax to personal income tax to property tax, this report shows how Florida compares to southeastern states as well as the nation. "

Mitigating Unemployment Comp Tax Increases Facing Employers Using Cost Saving Recommendations to Help Pay Federal Loan Obligations and Enacting Reforms Can Help

Monday, February 28, 2011 / Categories: Research, Economic Development

The high cost of unemployment hit the state coffers hard. This report shows what happens when the state paid out more in unemployment benefits than it collected in the trust fund used to provide benefits to jobless Floridians.

The Governor's Budget Recommendations for FY 2011-12 First Proposed Budget a Bold Plan for Spending Cuts- Tax Relief

Monday, January 31, 2011 / Categories: Research, Budget/Approps, Taxes

"Just weeks after being sworn in as governor, Rick Scott released his first budget which called for several billion dollars in spending cuts and the layoff of thousands of state workers. "

Florida Remains a Donor State Even Through The Great Recession

Friday, December 31, 2010 / Categories: Research, Cost Savings

Florida receives less money in federal grants to state and local governments than nearly every other state. This report examines the reasons why the Florida pays more than it gets back.

Briefing: Corrections 2.0: A Proposal to Create a Continuum of Care in Corrections through Public-Private Partnerships

Friday, December 31, 2010 / Categories: Research, Corrections/Judicial

"Many current correctional systems operate under policy decisions made decades ago, a leading factor in persistently high recidivism rates. This report shows how private sector involvement could be the key to improved inmate outcomes. "

The Inaugural Speech of Governor Rick Scott

Friday, December 31, 2010 / Categories: Research, Guest Columns

(From Ideas in Action: verbatim transcript of Jan. 2011 inaugural address)

Report and Recommendations of the Government Cost Savings Task Force for FY2011-12

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 / Categories: Research, Cost Savings

The Task Force provides a compilation of 125 extensively researched recommendations aimed at achieving major cost-savings and cost containment in many areas of state government.