Press Releases

Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida are critical functions of our state, boosting our economy and creating thousands of jobs for hard-working Floridians. While we hold much respect for the members on the House Appropriations Committee, we are disappointed in their votes to move forward on House Bill 7005. The bill will now be heard in front of the full House Chamber.

Today’s record-breaking tourism numbers are proof that Florida’s funding of marketing programs is working for the state. Nearly 113 million visitors came to the Sunshine State to attend our theme parks, spend time on the beach and enjoy numerous other attractions.

The latest report by the non-profit, non-partisan government watchdog Florida TaxWatch finds that Florida’s sales tax holidays are beneficial to Florida taxpayers and businesses, while any decrease in sales tax revenue for the state is offset by growth revenue. The report notes that sales tax holidays are successful in increasing consumer spending, and that the Back To School Sales Tax Holiday is the second biggest shopping weekend in Florida, trailing only Black Friday.

Florida’s job growth in 2016 has brought the state’s employment numbers to an all-time high, according to a new report released today by Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog.

Earlier today, Governor Scott revealed his proposed budget for consideration by the 2017 Legislature. His ‘Fighting for Florida’s Future’ budget aims to cut taxes for Floridians by $618 million (which includes a cut to the Business Rent Tax (BRT)), includes a $85 million investment in economic incentives and calls for $21 billion in state and local funding to improve Florida’s K-12 education system.

Florida TaxWatch is pleased that the Governor Scott has heeded the recommendations of our research to include a 25 percent reduction (1.5 points) in the business rent tax (BRT), saving Florida businesses more than $454 million a year. As the only state in the union with a tax on commercial leases, Florida is at a clear competitive disadvantage with other states.

This morning, the Florida Supreme Court declined to hear the teacher’s union lawsuit attacking Florida’s tax credit scholarship program. This is a huge victory for Florida families. These scholarships provide lower income families, most of whom are minorities, the opportunities to receive a high quality education and are funded through donations from businesses across the state.

With Florida’s prison population one of the largest in the country, lawmakers have made a concentrated push to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the state correctional system. The latest report by Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier, non-partisan government watchdog, offers a detailed analysis of the state’s sentencing, incarceration, prisoner, and correctional budget histories, allowing policy makers and the public to identify areas in need of improvement regarding corrections.

Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier, non-partisan government watchdog for almost 40 years, has led the charge for expanding scope of practice for advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) and physician assistants (PAs), which would significantly lower costs for patients while improving access across the state. On January 1, 2017, provisions within HB 423 became effective, making Florida the final state in the country to allow ARNPs to prescribe controlled drugs.

Today, Florida TaxWatch held a press conference outlining the Florida Government Efficiency Task Force (GETF) final report, which details 29 recommendations that would improve government operations while saving hard-working Florida taxpayers’ money. The potential cost-savings the state could realize if these recommendations were implemented could exceed $2 billion annually.

While people are focusing on holiday shopping and travel plans, Florida TaxWatch is looking to 2017 and what it will bring for Florida’s economic outlook. The latest Economic Commentary published by the non-partisan, non-profit research institute finds that 2017 should bring sustained growth to the Sunshine State as people continue to find jobs and payrolls increase.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The latest General Revenue forecast paints a slightly less gloomy picture than previous projections, as highlighted by the December edition of the

Charlie was a highly effective Chancellor of Florida’s universities and public leader for the taxpayers of the Sunshine State for many decades. Florida and its taxpayers are certainly much better off because of the leadership and effective management skills of Charlie Reed. It was my pleasure and honor to have been his friend for more than 30 years and his loss is a loss for me personally, all Floridians and everyone who cares about education and public service.

Governor Rick Scott could not have made a better choice than selecting my friend and Florida TaxWatch leader Syd Kitson to serve on the Board of Governors of the State University System. Syd was highly effective serving as the innovative Chairman of the TaxWatch Center for Health & Aging, helping TaxWatch be a leader in securing legislation on Telehealth and expanded scope of practice for nurse and allied health professionals in the 2016 Legislative Session.

Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier non-profit, non-partisan research institute and government watchdog, named its new chairman and welcomed new board members at its 37th Annual Board Meeting on November 17th.

The Florida PTA is dropping out of the Florida Education Association’s lawsuit targeting a tax credit funded scholarship program and this is excellent news for Florida families. These scholarships provide lower income families, most of whom are minorities, the opportunities to receive a high quality education and are funded through donations from businesses across the state. The Florida PTA joins Florida School Boards Association and the Florida Association of School Administrators in dropping out of the lawsuit.

Principals are critical leaders in the education system. They are effective managers, role models and are the face of the school to families and taxpayers. For these reasons and many more, Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute, is proud to have established the Principal Leadership Awards program in 2013 to identify Florida’s most effective principals in K-12 public schools. This year’s top performing principals who have helped students achieve in Florida’s high-risk public schools were recognized on Thursday, November 17th, at the 4th Annual Florida TaxWatch Principal Leadership Awards at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando.

For nearly four decades, Florida TaxWatch has called for transparency in the budget process with our annual “turkey list” which highlights items that were inserted into the state budget with no opportunity for public review.

The latest Florida TaxWatch Economic Commentary reports that the United States’s bee population has fallen from about 6 million colonies in the 1947 to just 2.5 million today. Because more than a third of the world’s diet relies on pollinated crops, this dramatic population decline has already stung the food supply chain.

We appreciate and support House Speaker-Designate Richard Corcoran’s efforts to recover taxpayer money provided to Sanford Burnham. The California-based institute received $350 million in incentives from local and state taxpayers yet failed to create all the jobs it promised before announcing earlier this year that it was withdrawing from the state. This includes nearly $155 million in incentives funded by state taxpayers.