Tallahassee, Fla. – With the recent start of Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session, Florida TaxWatch is once again hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner […]
Florida TaxWatch, in collaboration with the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), released a report titled “It’s Time to Reform Florida’s Information Technology Procurement and Oversight.” The report highlights Florida’s 25-year history of inadequately executed large-scale IT projects and offers recommendations for reforming the Florida Digital Service’s (FL[DS]) procurement and oversight processes to ensure their success. Key points from the report include: – FTW and AIF identified recurring problems in statewide technology projects, including poor planning, contracting, and oversight, leading to failures in accountability. – Since 1999, Florida has repeatedly restructured its state agency overseeing these IT projects, with the FL[DS] established most recently in 2020. – Public sector IT agencies like the FL[DS] struggle to compete with the private sector in hiring knowledgeable staff due to salary and work condition limitations, leading to an overreliance on consultants and vendors. – The report proposes 10 recommendations for the Florida Legislature, such as forming a joint committee on IT and offering incentives like signing bonuses to attract IT staff. Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro emphasized the need for the state’s IT projects to be delivered efficiently and within budget. AIF President and CEO Brewster B. Bevis highlighted the importance of Florida improving its IT processes for long-term success. For more details and access to the full report, including all recommendations, interested parties are directed to the Florida TaxWatch website. FTW, a nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog, has been working to enhance productivity and accountability in Florida government for over forty years.
Tallahassee, Fla. – With the recent start of Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session, Florida TaxWatch is once again hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner
The 2023 Debt Report for Florida highlights the state’s strong financial standing, with a debt ratio below the 6% legislative target for the tenth consecutive year. Florida’s debt and debt service have decreased, while General Revenue collections increased by $3.3 billion. Rating agencies affirmed AAA ratings and a stable financial outlook. The report details Florida’s debt management strategies, including limiting debt accumulation and maintaining high reserves, contributing to a strong debt capacity and reduced future costs. Local government debt, however, remains comparatively high. The state’s prudent financial practices are underscored, benefiting taxpayers and indicating a healthy fiscal future.
Access to affordable, quality child care and early learning programs is essential for keeping parents in the workforce. In July 2022, Florida TaxWatch released “How Childcare Impacts the State’s Economy and Shapes Florida’s Workforce” to examine the risk unstable childcare options pose to the state’s economy. The briefing found that childcare-related turnover can cost $5.7 billion in lost earnings for families, $1.2 billion in turnover expenses for businesses, and $518.3 million in tax revenues, annually. Yet, the availability and capacity of high-quality child care and early learning programs remain limited, and often unaffordable, for many Florida families.
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released Fostering School Success: Unveiling the Effective Strategies of Florida’s Top Principals. This report provides a summary of a May 2023 roundtable discussion with five distinguished principals who were recognized through the government watchdog’s 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards, which is an annual program – established in 2013 and still unlike any other program in the country – that identifies and rewards principals who are creating meaningful change in their at-risk K-12 schools across the state.
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida Medicaid Redetermination, which examines Florida’s Medicaid Redetermination Plan and options for Floridians who will no longer be covered through Medicaid, but are still below the poverty threshold. The briefing also touches on the responsibility of the state legislature to address this “coverage gap” on behalf of the 388,000 individuals who may not have access to affordable health care.
Tallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday beginning Mon., July 24.
Tallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the two sales tax holidays beginning Sat., July 1, 2023 – the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday (an extension of the existing sales tax holiday) and the new Gas Ranges and Cooktops Sales Tax Holiday.
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of access to reliable and affordable broadband Internet service in our daily lives, which makes available an almost limitless amount of information; provides a platform for education, health care, and commerce; and facilitates family connections, social communication, and idea sharing. What’s more, public and private agencies alike offer critical services and regular updates for citizens through online programs.
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