9 Actions Florida Should Take to Help Taxpayers Impacted by Hurricane Ian

1.     Postpone tax notices and waive penalties or interest for late tax filings in affected areas

2.     Extend the date for residents to take advantage of the tax discounts they would normally receive for paying property taxes and special assessments in November and postpone or defer the deadline for property tax installment payments

3.     Protect individual and business taxpayers from the risks for notices that they will likely not receive because their home or business addresses is not accessible anymore

4.     Issue no new audits in severely impacted areas, extend the statute of limitations and postpone existing audits that haven’t reached the assessment stage because these can’t be responded to while entire communities are still recovering

5.     Create procedures for fairly estimating taxes which can’t be calculated because records have been destroyed by the storm, moving away from the current method which significantly overestimates activity if no records are available

6.     Initiate procedures to offer payment plan assistance for late taxes, rather than resorting to the standard collection methods, like liens, levies, or bank freezes

7.     Retroactively apply the recently passed law that provides property tax refunds for residential property rendered uninhabitable as a result of a catastrophic event

8.     Provide tangible personal property relief and allow n on-residential properties rendered uninhabitable to receive property tax refunds

9.     Get Congress to pass a Disaster Tax Relief Act that includes provisions from past packages, including elements such as an Employee Retention Credit, an enhanced casualty loss deduction, and other relief provisions

Other Resources

Florida TaxWatch Statement on Hurricane Ian Recovery

Community Involvement

2025 Principal Leadership Awards Roundtable Summary

2025 Principal Leadership Awards Roundtable Summary Cover

Principals are second only to teachers in their impact on student learning—and in Florida’s highest-need schools, effective leadership is the catalyst for outsize gains. Florida TaxWatch convened a roundtable on May 14, 2025 with the latest Principal Leadership Awards (PLA) winners to surface the strategies behind sustained improvement. Drawing on data-driven selection (FL-VAM) and firsthand practice, this summary distills what works and why it matters for schools serving predominantly at-risk students.

Participants emphasized four pillars: (1) attracting and retaining high-quality teachers through strong culture, targeted support, and judicious autonomy; (2) developing teachers via clear expectations, professional learning communities, and tiered academic/behavioral supports; (3) building relationships beyond campus—engaging families, local employers, and nonprofits to turn schools into resource hubs; and (4) managing time and personnel with intentional delegation, visible instructional leadership, and staffing that places the strongest teachers where they are most needed.

The discussion aligns with national research: supportive leadership improves retention and instructional quality; PLCs raise student outcomes when they share goals and accountability; family engagement and community partnerships boost attendance, behavior, and achievement. Principals also flagged realities on the ground—teacher burnout, vacancies in high-demand areas, and increased student needs—underscoring the importance of mental-health awareness, predictable routines, and trust-building.

Florida TaxWatch encourages action across stakeholders. Superintendents can share and scale these practices districtwide. Policymakers can invest in school-based services, leadership pipelines, and flexibility to partner with business and community groups. Employers can provide internships and resources that connect learning to careers. Nonprofits can help schools operate as community hubs. The throughline is clear: when principals are empowered to lead people, instruction, and partnerships well, students exceed expectations—and whole communities benefit.

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Meet the Author:

Jessica Cimijotti-Little
Jessica Cimijotti-Little
Research Analyst
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