Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier non-profit, non-partisan government watchdog, highlights how performance-based contracting, or pay-for-performance, can increase efficiency and create successful outcomes in public sector contracting in its August 2016 Economic Commentary. Evidence shows that when applied correctly, performance-based contracting can minimize the risk to the taxpayer while maximizing project outcomes.

The latest Florida TaxWatch report analyzes our state’s juvenile pre-arrest diversion (JPAD) programs and finds these programs are crucial to keeping juveniles from deeper involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems, leading to a decrease in recidivism and improved odds of success in their adult lives. These programs also save significant taxpayer dollars that can be better invested elsewhere.

Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, has always committed itself to educating and informing Florida voters on critical policy issues affecting them. As part of this critical mission, we have released the 2016 Florida Primary Voter Guide, featuring an in-depth analysis of Amendment 4 that will assist voters in making an informed decision on August 30th.

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the latest tourism numbers and Florida continues to be a premier destination for visitors around the globe. The Sunshine State welcomed 27.3 million tourists to our great state in the second quarter of 2016 and 57.4 million over the first six months of 2016, which stands as the highest number of tourists in any six month time frame in Florida history.

Allison is a perfect fit for our world-class research team on health care topics including telehealth, expanding the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, and other issues that affect the future of everyone in the Sunshine State .

Florida TaxWatch is proud to announce the opening of our first office in South Florida. “For nearly 40 years, Florida TaxWatch has been the leading non-partisan voice for taxpayers throughout the state,” said Dominic M. Calabro, president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “This physical expansion in Miami will allow us to better serve all Floridians with valuable proximity to this international hub of business and tourism.”

After a debilitating recession from 2007 to 2009 that cost thousands of people their jobs, Florida is again among the national leaders in job creation at the halfway mark of 2016, according to the latest Economic Commentary by Florida TaxWatch.