Press Releases

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Beyond the Pandemic: Long Term Changes and Challenges for Health in Florida, which addresses a unique confluence of factors that are contributing to important outcomes for the state’s health care system and consequently, the economy.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2021 Budget Turkey Watch Report, an independent review of the state’s FY 2021-22 budget. The annual practice is based on the principle that, because funds appropriated by the Legislature belong to Florida taxpayers, the process must be transparent and accountable, and every appropriation should receive proper deliberation and public debate. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Economic Commentary: State COVID-19 Restrictions & the Road Back to Economic Normal, which offers a cursory overview of the relationship between states’ COVID-19 restrictions and their respective economic recoveries. Using data obtained by CNN and Moody’s Analytics, as well as WalletHub, the analysis indicates that states implementing more stringent COVID-19 guidelines, such as face mask requirements and bans on large gatherings, have had slower economic recoveries compared to those that lifted restrictions sooner, a measure determined by the national index score, state-level employment, unemployment insurance claims, seated restaurants open, and more.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest Economic Commentary: The Backbone of the Economy: How Small Businesses in Florida Have Fared During the Pandemic. The briefing outlines how Florida’s 2.7 million small businesses – which employ 3.5 million employees or roughly 41.7 percent of the private workforce – have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –  Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) commended Governor DeSantis for signing the historic bill passing E-Fairness legislation to protect and serve the taxpayers of Florida.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released Calling for Clarity: Florida’s Confusing and Conflicting Scheme for Taxing Government Leaseholds Needs Legislative Attention. The report introduces the idea that Florida’s taxation of government-owned property leased by non-government entities does not align with the principles of sound tax policy – simplicity, fairness, transparency, and ease of administration. In fact, the taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, which has been a trusted resource for state leaders for over 40 years, notes that the law governing the taxation of government leaseholds has been shaped more by the courts than the Legislature and should be subject to a comprehensive review.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch announced the release of the taxpayer research institute’s latest report, An Independent Assessment of the Value of Broward UP. Launched by Broward College in 2018, Broward UP (Unlimited Potential) is an innovative approach to increasing college access and delivering workforce education in communities impacted by high unemployment and low education attainment, with the aim to improve economic mobility in targeted Broward County area ZIP codes.

Tallahassee, Fla – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro today commended the state’s legislative leaders for taking the historic step of passing E-fairness legislation to protect and serve the taxpayers of Florida.

Today, Florida TaxWatch announced that tomorrow, Fri., April 9 marks the 2021 Florida Taxpayer Independence Day. This symbolic occasion assumes that every dollar Floridians earned since the start of the year goes to pay federal, state, and local taxes, but now, they will finally begin earning for themselves. This year, it took Florida taxpayers an average of 98 days, or more than three months, to satisfy their tax obligations.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch, the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, released Calling All Cars? Florida’s Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS-2) Underscores the Need for Procurement Reform, a detailed analysis of efforts made to replace the aging Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) equipment and ensure law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders can communicate quickly and effectively.

Our economic research team evaluated the impact of the data privacy bills introduced this year and found that though it may promote some level of consumer privacy, as introduced, the bills in their current form would disproportionately affect small businesses and expose Florida employers to significant costs and economic risks.

Although the data privacy legislation would create economic value and privacy for consumers, many businesses and taxpayers are concerned about its expansive nature and unintended consequences. This independent analysis simply provides the facts that can enable the legislation to target its intended audience without unintentionally hurting many small and mid-size Florida businesses and non-profit organizations. 

“Florida TaxWatch commends State Rep. Josie Tomkow for her amendment to House Bill 15, which will allocate the additional sales tax revenue generated through the legislation to reduce the Business Rent Tax (BRT) from 5.5 percent to 2.0 percent after it first restores the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund to pre-pandemic levels. For years, Florida TaxWatch has recommended the use of this revenue to reduce the BRT, and we are thrilled that it is finally being considered. 

Florida TaxWatch commends Governor Ron DeSantis for signing SB 72, Florida’s COVID-19 Liability Shield, into law this afternoon. This important bill will avoid the annual loss of an estimated 356,000 jobs and $28 billion in personal income for Florida residents, according to a Florida TaxWatch research report.

“Floridians are required by law to pay online sales taxes, but most are unaware; and even if they know about it, the process is remarkably tedious. Enacting legislation to shift the burden to out-of-state retailers would protect these hard-working men and women, who are already dedicated taxpayers, while also providing for a more efficient process that puts over $1.3 billion back in local and state government coffers every year. Florida TaxWatch is grateful to Rep. Clemons for supporting this issue – which has been an organizational priority for almost two decades – and working tirelessly to see House Bill 15 through.”

Florida TaxWatch commends House Speaker Chris Sprowls, Representative Lawrence McClure, Senate President Wilton Simpson, Senator Jeff Brandes, and members of the House and Senate for passing SB 72­­­­, which provides limited immunity from civil liability for damages relating to COVID-19 for responsible Florida businesses and health care providers. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch – the taxpayer research institute respected for more than 40 years – released its latest Economic Commentary, The State of Medicaid in Florida.

With more than 8,400 miles of shoreline and an estimated 1.5 million residential swimming pools, it should come as no surprise that Florida leads the U.S. in unintentional drowning deaths of children ages 1-4.

Locally imposed tourist development taxes (TDTs) play a vital role in Florida counties’ promotion of tourism. Over the years, the Legislature has added more and more authorized uses of this revenue, diluting the funding available for tourism promotion and advertising. The “slippery slope” warning raised by the tourism industry and Florida TaxWatch in the past has become a reality.