Tallahassee, Fla. – With the recent start of Florida’s 2023 Legislative Session, Florida TaxWatch is once again hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner on Tues., March 14 at 6 p.m. Held at the Augustus B. Turnbull III Conference Center in Tallahassee, the program will offer the state’s elected leaders and policymakers the opportunity to speak directly to the interests of hard-working taxpayers and their families.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released a list of taxpayer priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session, which begins on Tues., March 7 and is scheduled to adjourn on Fri., May 5. The list reflects a range of issues that the independent, nonpartisan taxpayer research institute has examined and will continue to closely monitor during the upcoming session. 

Please find below a letter from Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, Dominic M. Calabro, sent to state Sen. Jay Collins (R-Tampa), related to the senator’s request that the government watchdog review the Tampa Bay Pilots Association’s request for an increase in pilotage fees prior to the Pilotage Rate Review Committee’s meeting on Thurs., March 2. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Extending State Group Insurance to the Florida College System Case Study: Indian River State College. In this briefing, FTW analyzes the benefits of extending the State Group Insurance Program (SGIP) to the 28 colleges that comprise the Florida College System (FCS). Citing a December 2021 Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) study, FTW states that offering this defined benefit program – where the employee pays a fixed amount toward the monthly premium (for individual or family coverage) and the state pays the remainder – would be an investment in the continued development of Florida’s specialized workforce.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the tax relief measures Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced as part of his Framework for Freedom Budget.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida Voters Continue to Say Yes to Proposed Tax Increases, a briefing examining the trend of Florida voters approving tax increases at the local level. This report builds on FTW’s February 2021 analysis, A Decade of Self-Taxing, which found that Floridians increased their own taxes 142 times since 2010. The new report focuses on voting patterns in the 2021 and 2022 elections, including voters’ propensity for authorizing county-wide sales and property tax increases, and more.

  Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, in partnership with Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, and FloridaMakes, Florida TaxWatch is releasing a report entitled Producing More Talent: MakeMore Manufacturing Summit 2022 Summary Report. The report summarizes presentations made at the fourth annual MakeMore Manufacturing Summit in October 2022, themed “Producing More Talent,” as well as focus group discussions held prior to the Summit among representatives from a variety of companies across the state that depend on a strong manufacturing workforce. 

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Importance of Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grants. In the report, FTW underscores the financial and economic benefits of the EASE Grant Program, which was established by the Florida Legislature in 1979 to offset declining student enrollment at private colleges and universities.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Using Public-Private Partnerships and Public-Public Partnerships to Meet the Growing Demands for Public Infrastructure, a report highlighting the opportunity for increased private sector investment in Florida’s critical public infrastructure. FTW also outlines recommendations for facilitating such investment, drawing from well-planned and successfully executed infrastructure-related public-private partnerships (PPPs) and public-public partnerships (PUPs) in Florida and other states.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tomorrow, Thurs., Jan. 5, 2023 – following the recent announcement of all 2022 Florida TaxWatch (FTW) Productivity Award winners – FTW will present 18 awards to individual and team winners from District Four and District Six of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). 

  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Florida Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 4-A: Disaster Relief, which occurred today and will provide more than $750 million in financial relief for localities and residents impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. To learn more and/or schedule an interview with a FTW representative, please contact Aly Coleman Raschid at aly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced its 2022-23 executive officers and seven new board of trustees members who will contribute to the independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit taxpayer research institute’s efforts to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. These men and women, who hold prominent positions within highly regarded organizations across a variety of industries, were elected at FTW’s Annual Meeting earlier in December and will serve three-year terms. They join an esteemed executive committee and 89 returning board members.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released A Key to Overcoming Disasters: Complete Census Data Reinforces Resiliency, a timely commentary highlighting the value of census data throughout the planning, response, and recovery stages of a disaster. The report also points to the estimated 750,000 Florida residents who were not counted in the 2020 Census, leaving up to $2.1 billion per year on the table for the next 10 years – federal funding that could have supported Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced the winners of the 2022 Florida TaxWatch Productivity Awards (TPA) program, which, for over three decades, has recognized and rewarded the hard work and dedication of state employees who have taken the initiative to improve services and increase efficiencies, while also serving as good stewards of their fellow Floridians’ hard-earned tax dollars. This year, after receiving hundreds of nominations, FTW will present approximately 148 awards to thousands of individual employees and large teams from 17 state agencies and four universities across Florida. In total, their efforts will save taxpayers over $818 million, contributing to an estimated $12 billion in total savings since the program was established.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – Verizon today announces a $250,000 donation to support small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian. Verizon is partnering with Collaboratory, a local non-profit community-problem solving organization in Southwest Florida, and Florida TaxWatch, a trusted non-profit organization that serves as the ‘eyes and ears’ of Florida taxpayers and promotes economic development across the state, to create $10,000 grants to provide small businesses in the hardest-hit areas of Florida with critical relief.

Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, said, “Our thoughts are with the first responders, volunteers, elected officials, and Florida families whose lives will never be the same due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian. As our state continues its rescue and recovery efforts in the many weeks and months ahead, we must remember to also look toward tomorrow.

“This year, people all across the country encountered record high costs at the gas pump, but fortunately for Floridians, they will receive some much-needed relief throughout the month of October with the new Motor Fuel Tax Relief holiday. Florida TaxWatch thanks Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for implementing this reduction, which is made possible by the state’s unprecedented level of reserves, as these unallocated dollars will fund investments that are usually subsidized by the gas tax.”  Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro