Social Determinants of Health: Neighborhood and Built Environment

Florida TaxWatch's latest report looks into how neighborhood and built environment factors significantly affect community health. The analysis highlights the impact of poor housing conditions, overcrowding, and limited access to essential resources like healthcare and healthy food, which elevate the risk of chronic illnesses and mental health challenges. Unsafe neighborhoods and environmental hazards also disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The report underscores the need for strategic community investments to improve health outcomes and economic stability, advocating for healthier and safer environments that can lead to reduced healthcare costs.

From Roads to Roots: A Review of Florida’s Highway Landscape Spending

/ Categories: Research, Transportation

Florida TaxWatch's latest report reviews FDOT's highway landscaping expenditures, which exceed $200 million annually. While the beautification projects provide key benefits like reducing erosion and enhancing safety, the report questions the lack of a spending cap. It explores potential legislative changes to optimize taxpayer investment. Download the full report for insights into these recommendations and the future of Florida’s highway landscaping policies.

«April 2025»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
31123
The What, Why, and How of the Florida TaxWatch Budget Turkey Watch Report

The What, Why, and How of the Florida TaxWatch Budget Turkey Watch Report

Florida TaxWatch’s annual Budget Turkey Watch Report for 2025 meticulously examines the state budget to identify appropriations that deviate from sound fiscal management principles. Below is an expanded overview of what Budget Turkeys are, why they are identified, and how they are determined.

Read more
4
Using Microelectronic Sensors to Continuously Monitor Vertical Infrastructure

Using Microelectronic Sensors to Continuously Monitor Vertical Infrastructure

This Florida TaxWatch report explores how microelectronic smart sensor networks can proactively monitor vertical infrastructure to detect issues such as structural fatigue, corrosion, or damage before they lead to catastrophic failures, as seen in the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse (98 deaths) and the 2018 Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse (6 deaths).

Read more
56
789
The Voter Guide for the City of North Port’s May 13, 2025 Referendum

The Voter Guide for the City of North Port’s May 13, 2025 Referendum

The City of North Port, Florida's second fastest growing city in the United States, faces significant challenges from rapid urbanization, population growth, and ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian's devastating impact in 2022. This Florida TaxWatch report examines the implications of the May 13, 2025 special election referendum, which asks voters to decide on several critical municipal issues.

Read more
1011
Fair Share Taxes Driven Away by Electric Vehicles

Fair Share Taxes Driven Away by Electric Vehicles

Proposed solutions include redistributing a portion of the sales tax collected at EV charging stations to the STTF and adopting a hybrid approach that combines higher registration fees with targeted EV taxes. These proposals aim to ensure that all drivers contribute their “fair share” toward maintaining Florida’s transportation infrastructure in the face of rapid technological change.

Read more
1213
14
Extending the Local Communication Services Tax Increase Moratorium and a Sales Tax Exemption for Broadband Equipment Should be  Part of Any Tax Relief Package this Session

Extending the Local Communication Services Tax Increase Moratorium and a Sales Tax Exemption for Broadband Equipment Should be Part of Any Tax Relief Package this Session

Florida TaxWatch's CST and Broadband Equipment report examines the impact of the high Communications Services Tax (CST) on broadband infrastructure investment and consumer expenses. The report details how Florida’s current CST ranks among the highest in the nation and explores its effects on both businesses and low-income households, who are particularly vulnerable to the disproportionate burden of such taxes on essential wireless services.

Read more
151617181920
21
Taxpayer Independence Day 2025

Taxpayer Independence Day 2025

Florida TaxWatch’s Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2025 report commemorates the symbolic April 21 date when the average Floridian has earned enough to satisfy all federal, state, and local tax obligations. In 2025, Floridians spend 110 days—until 11:24 a.m.—paying taxes each year before they begin earning for themselves.

Read more
222324252627
2829301234
567891011

Archive