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

Building The Force: An Analysis of Florida’s Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP)

Building the Force: LEAP Report Cover

Executive Summary

Florida’s Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP) is helping address persistent officer shortages, particularly in rural and fiscally constrained communities where recruiting and retaining qualified personnel remains a challenge. Traditional pathways into law enforcement often require candidates to pay for training upfront while forgoing income, creating barriers that limit access to the profession.

Through an “earn and learn” model, LEAP allows participants to receive paid, on-the-job training while completing required certification. Since its launch in June 2023, the program has expanded to 25 Sheriff’s Offices and 117 active apprentices statewide. Supported by $3.25 million in state funding, LEAP reimburses agencies for salaries, training, and equipment—making it especially impactful for smaller departments while strengthening Florida’s law enforcement workforce pipeline.

Key Takeaways

  • LEAP removes barriers to entry: The “earn and learn” model eliminates upfront training costs, expanding access to law enforcement careers.
  • Rural communities benefit most: The program strengthens local hiring pipelines and supports staffing in underserved areas.
  • Demand exceeds funding: Strong participation and waiting lists highlight the need for sustained investment.
  • Workforce diversity is improving: LEAP is attracting a broader range of candidates, including older recruits and individuals with diverse life experience.

Why This Matters: LEAP is strengthening Florida’s law enforcement pipeline, easing staffing shortages, and expanding access to public safety careers. Continued investment will be key to meeting demand and keeping communities safe.

Meet the Author:

Rylan Clark
Rylan Clark
Research Fellow
Lead Author
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