This edition of the 2016 Voter Guide details the four amendments on the November 8 ballot. We have provided a notes sheet on page 30 of this Guide, where you can jot down anything you want to remember about the amendments, and take it with you to the polls.
Florida TaxWatch, the state’s premier nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog, has always committed itself to educating and informing Florida voters on critical policy issues affecting them. As part of this critical mission, we have released the 2016 Florida Primary Voter Guide, featuring an in-depth analysis of Amendment 4 that will assist voters in making an informed decision on August 30th.
On August 30 and November 8, 2016, Floridians will vote on a total of five proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution. This Florida TaxWatch Voter Guide is designed to provide voters with information about each of the amendments to help them cast well-informed votes.
This publication compares the revenue and expenditure profiles of Florida’s 67 counties to give taxpayers an overview of how their local government stacks up with the rest of the state.
This Economic Commentary looks at Florida’s mid-year job growth figures, showing that the state has added approximately 244,500 non-farm jobs over the past year.
Pursuant to Article III, section 19(i) of the Florida Constitution, the Government Efficiency Task Force (“Task Force”) is pleased to submit its final recommendations to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Legislative Budget Commission. The enclosed report includes 29 recommendations which, if implemented, will significantly improve the efficiency of government operations and will reduce the costs of government by more than $2 billion annually.
Wednesday, April 20 Florida TaxWatch celebrates Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2016: the day Floridians are finally earning money for themselves and not for the tax collector. This symbolic date assumes that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local tax obligations. In 2015, for the average Florida household, paying its taxes takes 110 out of 365 days, or more than three and a half months.
Each year, the Budget Turkey Report consists of only a very small percentage of the state budget and this year represented just over 0.1 percent. The $82.3 billion budget passed by the Florida House and Senate on March 11, 2016 contains 143 appropriations items worth $104.9 million qualifying as Budget Turkeys.
Have you ever wondered how Florida’s taxes stack up against the taxes in other states? If so, this report is for you. The annual Florida TaxWatch How Florida Compares: Taxes report ranks Florida’s state and local taxes against those levied around the nation.
With the release of the fiscal year 2016-17 budget, lawmakers now have 72 hours to read the final proposed budget prior to voting. The Tax and Budget Reform Commission, with the urging of Florida TaxWatch, was instrumental in enacting the constitutionally required 72 hour “cooling off” period, ensuring that the public, press and all legislators have a chance to examine the budget before a vote is cast. The $82.349 billion state budget will fund various state agencies and critical needs for all Floridians.
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.
