TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, in honor of the TaxWatch Productivity Awards (TPA) program’s 30 th year, a Cabinet Resolution, sponsored by Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, officially designated July 2019 as “TaxWatch Productivity Awards Recognition Month.”
ORLANDO, Fla. – On Thursday, May 23, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) recognized nine of Florida’s most effective leaders in high-risk K-12 public schools during the 2018-19 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA) Dinner in Orlando. Three principals, one selected from each category (elementary, middle and high school) took home top honors. Florida TaxWatch established the PLA program in 2013, to recognize and reward the work of principals, and promote their unique practices throughout the state.
The following statement is to be attributed to Dominic M. Calabro, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, relating to the Halifax Hospital Taxing District Legislation.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement regarding Senator Jeff Brandes’ Florida First Step Act –
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Sunday, April 14, Floridians will celebrate the first day of the year where taxpayers are finally earning money for themselves and not for the tax collector. Taxpayer Independence Day, calculated by Florida TaxWatch, accepts that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local obligations. This year, it will take the average Florida family 103 out of 365 days – or almost three and a half months – to satisfy its tax obligations. Looking at it another way, it takes two hours and 15 minutes of every eight-hour workday to earn enough to pay your taxes.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s premier, independent government watchdog of forty years, Florida TaxWatch, has released a new research report about the state’s affordable housing crisis. In the Sunshine State, there are only 26 affordable and available housing units for every 100 “extremely low-income” renter households. This is the sixth-smallest percentage of available units in the nation and well below the national average of 36 percent.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement regarding public investment in FloridaMakes –
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch today released a new ‘Session Spotlight’ briefing encouraging the Florida Legislature to address inequities facing Florida-based business and taxpayers. The briefing by Florida’s premier independent government watchdog of 40 years urges the Legislature to take advantage of the opportunity to resolve the problem of uncollected sales taxes on remote sales, provided by the U.S. Supreme Court decision made last year in their Wayfair decision. In addition to the Session Spotlight briefing, Florida TaxWatch has also released a report, authored by Bob Goldman of Dean, Mead, and Dunbar, that goes further in-depth on the issue.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Since the enactment of the Communications Services Tax (CST) Simplification Act in 2001, Florida TaxWatch has released several reports recommending that the Legislature reduce this burdensome and highly regressive tax on consumers. A new report by Florida’s premier independent government watchdog of forty years addresses Florida’s very high CST rate and the impact it has on the state and the taxpayers.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new report by Florida’s premier independent taxpayer research institute of forty years, Florida TaxWatch, provides an update of the true average cost of educating a K-12 public school student in Florida. The government watchdog previously released a similar independent study in March 2017 that considered all categories of expenditures necessary for the operation of public schools.
As the Financial Impact Statement notes, there are a number of revenue implications with the proposed electricity deregulation ballot amendment. The direction and magnitude of these were all analyzed by Florida TaxWatch, and are described in some detail in the longer Financial Impact Statement, but were unfortunately not clearly shown as significantly negative in the 75-word statement that will accompany the initiative on the ballot should it reach that point.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida College System (FCS), which encompasses 28 institutions, is the primary access point to undergraduate education for more than 800,000 Floridians, including approximately 63 percent of recent high school graduates and returning adult students. In addition, the FCS compares very favorably with similar systems in other states, according to the number of Aspen Institute award winners and top ranking (2 nd nationally) by U.S. News and World Report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new briefing by Florida’s premier independent government watchdog, Florida TaxWatch, addresses two important taxpayer safeguards that are currently under fire. Legislation has been filed again this session to allow for their posting on the web to be sufficient notice, rather than placing the notice in a local newspaper (Notice of Proposed Tax Increase and other legal notices) or delivering by first class mail (TRIM Notice).
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new report by Florida’s premier independent government watchdog, Florida TaxWatch, finds that increasing access to palliative care can play an important role in improving patients’ quality of life and reducing healthcare spending.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s premier, independent government watchdog of forty years, Florida TaxWatch, has released an independent analysis about the point-of-care testing and treatment of influenza and streptococcus. Legislation has been proposed that would permit pharmacists to diagnose and treat influenza and strep at community pharmacies, using point-of-care tests that have approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This has the potential to allow better patient experiences, improve the quality of care, and most importantly, encourage patients to take greater control of their medical conditions.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch, the state’s nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute & government watchdog of forty years, has released its review of the Broward County School District’s SMART Program report for the quarter ending December 31, 2018. The report includes 9 recommendations, which will be presented and discussed by Florida TaxWatch’s Vice President of Research Bob Nave at the Bond Oversight Committee’s March 4, 2019 meeting
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s premier, independent government watchdog of forty years, Florida TaxWatch has released an independent analysis examining the financial impacts of a proposed constitutional amendment initiative that may appear on the November 2020 general election ballot that would (if approved) radically alter Florida’s electricity market.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida’s premier independent watchdog, Florida TaxWatch, released the follow-up to the 2018 Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide. The update details local tax measures and new bond issues that voters approved last month and provides an update on what’s next for the 11 amendments that are now part of Florida’s Constitution.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a new research report from Florida’s premier independent watchdog, Florida TaxWatch looks at the success of the Independent Medical Review (IMR) program in California and examines if an IMR program is a solution to keeping Florida’s workers’ compensation costs low.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 2018 election made its mark on Florida’s elected leadership, ushering in a new Governor, Attorney General, and Agriculture Commissioner, electing a previously appointed Chief Financial Officer, as well as new legislators and members of the Congressional delegation. However, the Florida legislative and executive branches are not the only ones welcoming in a new slate of leaders. Earlier this month, Florida TaxWatch welcomed the organization’s new chairman, Senator Pat Neal, at its 39 th Annual Meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach.
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