Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, as part of ongoing efforts to analyze the economic consequences of COVID-19, Florida TaxWatch released Economic Commentary: The Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s Employment.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch today announced five taxpayer priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session, which will begin on March 2 and adjourn on April 30.

Since 2014, Florida TaxWatch has researched and supported the expansion of telehealth (see Critical Connections to Care and Telehealth in Florida: Where We Are and What is Next) and our work has consistently found that telemedicine provides a way for Florida to increase self-sufficiency, contain costs, and improve health care access and outcomes. 

My name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for over 40 years, has worked hard to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of Florida government and promote a fair and equitable system of taxation.

In November 2018, Florida TaxWatch released an independent research report entitled “Is the Sun Setting on Film In Florida.” Our report highlights the critical economic need to consider incentives for the film and television industry as part of the state’s overall economic development strategy.

Tourism plays a major role in Florida’s economic strength. In 2019, more than 131 million tourists visited Florida and spent an estimated $91.3 billion. This spending supports as many as 1.5 million Florida jobs, and generates significant state and local tax revenues in Florida, helping to keep the tax burden on residents down. According to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, for every $1 the state invests in VISIT FLORIDA, $3.27 in state tax revenue is generated.

Last month, Florida TaxWatch released an independent research report entitled “The Best Defense Is A Good Offense: The Economic Impact of Protecting Responsible Floridians from COVID-Related Civil Liability.”

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch today released its latest report, A Decade of Self-Taxing, providing a comprehensive overview of the $10.8 billion in local taxes and bond issues that voters have approved since 2010. The report further details that Floridians have voted in favor of local tax referenda a total of 142 times – worth $4.8 billion annually – while also passing $6 billion in new bond issues in the last decade.

My name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for over 40 years, has worked to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of Florida government and promote a fair and equitable system of taxation. 

My name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for over 40 years, has worked to improve the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of Florida government and promote a fair and equitable system of taxation.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, comments from Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro were delivered to the Honorable Ed Hooper, Chair, and members of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee in support of SB 50 (Sales and Use Tax). The proposed legislation follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling (South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.) that states can apply reasonable requirements for remote vendors to collect sales and use taxes on sales to residents even if the vendor does not have a physical presence in the state. Currently, Florida is one of only two states that has not taken the steps to implement these requirements. Not collecting sales taxes on remote sales not only costs Florida governments millions in legally owed revenue, it also puts Florida retailers at a competitive disadvantage, distorts purchasing decisions, is unfair to Floridians that do pay the tax, and makes millions of Floridians – often unwittingly – lawbreakers.

My name is Dominic M. Calabro, and I am President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, taxpayer research institute and government watchdog which, for 40 years, has worked hard to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government.  Last week, Florida TaxWatch released an independent research report entitled, “The Best Defense Is A Good Offense: The Economic Impact of Protecting  Responsible Floridians from COVID-Related Civil Liability.”  Copies of the report have been made available to members and staff of the Committee and are available at FloridaTaxWatch.org/Research.  We look forward to discussing the findings with you and your staff as the Liability Shield protections conversation progresses.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today released two reports, Bringing The Sunshine State Back: The Impact of COVID-19 Across Florida’s Economy & Options for Recovery, and The Best Defense is a Good Offense: The Economic Impact of Protecting Responsible Floridians from COVID-Related Civil Liability, that address the impacts of a lack of a liability shield and the pandemic on Florida’s major economic sectors.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today released its 2021 Economic Preview: An Uncertain Yet Hopeful Year of Growth. Floridians have plenty of reason to be cautiously optimistic as the state’s economic picture in 2021 appears mixed and uncertain. Although strong job creation will certainly aid Florida’s labor market recovery, personal income will not grow as rapidly for many families.

Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) announced the appointment of Tony Carvajal as Executive Vice President. Mr. Carvajal succeeds Robert Weissert who is moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue the next chapter of his career after 14 great years with the taxpayer research institute. Along with Mr. Carvajal, TaxWatch also welcomes Carolyn Gosselin as Chief Growth and Strategy Officer, Tanya Bechtold as Director of Investor Relations, and Kat Dunn as Digital Content Manager. Florida TaxWatch is also announcing the promotions of Kurt Wenner and Bob Nave to Senior Vice Presidents of Research and Chris Barry to Vice President of Communications.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest economic commentary, Confidence and Coronavirus: How Consumers Feel About Florida’s Economy. In the report, FTW examines the impact of COVID-19 on the spending and confidence of Florida’s consumers throughout the pandemic.

Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today announced the winners of the 2020 TaxWatch Productivity Awards (TPA). For more than 30 years, the TPA program has recognized and rewarded the dedication and hard work of state employees who find ways to improve services, increase efficiencies, and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The 2020 awards were presented by Kyra Solutions, Inc.