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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest briefing, Local Tax Referenda on the November 2020 Ballot: What Passed?, providing commentary on the outcomes of local referenda considered by the voters on the 2020 general election ballot. This briefing follows Florida TaxWatch’s 2020 Voter Guide Special Edition: Local Tax Referenda report which was issued prior to the election and provided voters with a thoughtful analysis of these proposed ballot initiatives, tax increases, and new bond issues.
PRINT & DIGITAL Workers Push to Pass Amendment 2 for $15 Minimum Wage as Florida’s Tourism Industry Fights It (October 1, 2020) Orlando Sentinel Orlando
Florida TaxWatch is constantly looking to spread the word about our research, recommendations, and programs, all in pursuit of serving each and every taxpayer in Florida. Below is just a selection of where we’ve popped up in the last few weeks!
Presented to the Broward County Bond Oversight Committee October 5, 2020
After 128 months of economic expansion through February 2020, the global coronavirus pandemic brought on the largest post-war contraction in U.S. history. With the resulting closure or slowdown of businesses, record unemployment, and a loss of tourism, Florida’s economy is suffering. The impact on government revenue has been and will continue to be profound. The General Revenue Estimating Conference met on August 14 and reduced the revenue projections by $3.420 billion in the current budget year and $1.994 billion in FY2021-22. This follows news that actual collections in FY2019-20 fell $1.9 billion short of the estimate.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch (FTW) today released its Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2020-21 State Budget, providing an overview and analysis of the record $92.27 billion FY2020-21 Florida State Budget which was signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 29 and took effect July 1, 2020. The FY2020-21 budget, originally passed by the Florida Legislature totaling more than $93.2 billion, was cut with a record $1 billion in vetoes by Gov. DeSantis in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A medida que el impacto del coronavirus, o COVID-19, continúa extendiéndose a través de nuestro estado y nuestra nación, también lo hace la incertidumbre que trae a cada comunidad que toca. Empresas están cerrando, todo está cancelado, el desempleo está aumentando a un ritmo récord y el Congreso está aprobando el proyecto de ley de ayuda por desastre más grande en la historia de nuestro país, destinando billones de dólares para ayudar a combatir los impactos económicos de esta pandemia. Sin duda, estamos viviendo tiempos inciertos sin precedentes, pero durante las crisis es que vemos lo mejor de nuestros compañeros residentes de Florida. En estos últimos días y semanas, muchos han buscado formas de ayudar, y tenemos una simple sugerencia: lea su periódico y complete el Censo 2020.
As the impact of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread across our state and nation, so too does the uncertainty it brings to every community it touches. Businesses are shuttering. Everything is canceled. Unemployment is climbing at a record pace. And Congress on Friday passed the largest disaster relief bill in our nation’s history, directing trillions of dollars to help beat back the economic impacts of this pandemic. President Trump signed the bill into law late Friday afternoon. We are undoubtedly living in unprecedented and uncertain times, but it is during crises that we see the very best in our fellow Floridians. Over these past days and weeks, many have looked for ways to help and we have a simple suggestion — read your newspaper and complete the 2020 Census.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2020 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up and highlighted the passage of 11 legislative priorities supported by FTW during the recent session. Throughout the 2020 Legislative Session, lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate came together to pass 210 bills, including the General Appropriations Act (HB 5001), setting the state budget at a record $93.2 billion. Last week, FTW issued a statement urging the Florida Legislature to cut spending on member projects to bolster the state’s ability to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic.
For over 45 years, donor support has made Florida TaxWatch the state’s leading independent voice for taxpayer accountability. There are many ways to support our mission.
