October 2020 News Highlights
In the NewsPRINT & 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 Releases The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 State Budget
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 17, 2026 CONTACT: Christina Johnson TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2026-27 State Budget, providing an overview of
The Taxpayer’s Guide to Florida’s FY2026-27 State Budget
Budget & Appropriations, ResearchDear Fellow Taxpayer, Florida TaxWatch is pleased to present taxpayers with a guide to the FY2026-27 state budget, which went into effect July 1, 2026.
Florida TaxWatch Reviews The Broward Countywide Resilience Plan 2025, Commends Broward County for Undertaking Ambitions 45-Year Planning Effort
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 CONTACT: Christina Johnson Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its evaluation of the Broward Countywide Resilience Plan 2025, which will
Florida TaxWatch Looks At The Broward Countywide Resilience Plan 2025
Energy & Environment, Insurance, Local Government, Public Infrastructure & Utilities, ResearchDear Fellow Taxpayer, With more than 8,400 miles of coastline and a flat, low-lying coastal topography, Florida is especially vulnerable to the effects of sea
2026 Florida Legislative Session Wrap-Up – Special Session Edition
Budget & Appropriations, Research, TaxesIntroduction The 2026 Legislative Session, and its attendant special sessions, are finally over. For the second year in row, the Legislature could not complete its
Florida TaxWatch Releases 2026 Budget Turkey Watch Report; Identifies 621 Items Totaling $829.7 Million in Budget Turkeys
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 8, 2026 CONTACT: Christina Johnson Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its 2026 Budget Turkey Watch Report, an annual independent review of the state budget to promote
2026 Budget Turkey Watch Report: FY2026-27
Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Local Government, ResearchIntroduction Many in the Florida Legislature have been rightly criticizing local governments for rapidly increasing property taxes and budgets. The property tax debate and the
Florida TaxWatch Provides Analysis of the Governor’s Property Tax Amendment and Legislation, Recommends Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission Lead Debate
Press ReleasesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 1, 2026 CONTACT: Christina Johnson (Tallahassee, Fla.) — The Florida Legislature is meeting in special session to consider Governor DeSantis’ proposed constitutional amendment and
Tourism in Central Florida: Why Tourist Development Tax Revenue Should Not Be Diverted
Energy & Environment, Research, Taxes, TourismEach year, more than one hundred million visitors come to Florida to enjoy its beaches, warm temperatures, and its numerous parks, thrills, and attractions. Latest FloridaCommerce data confirm that Florida set a new all-time annual record in calendar year 2024 with 143 million visitors an increase of 1.7 percent over the previous record set in 2023. Out-of-state visitors to Florida spent $134.9 billion in calendar year 2024. For every $1 spent by a visitor, 99 cents stayed in Florida’s economy, with 59 cents supporting worker salaries. Tourism supported 1.8 million jobs in 2024 and generated $79.9 billion in wages, including $44 billion in direct wages. Tourism-related activity produced $33.6 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Tourism accounted for 7.8 percent of Florida’s Nominal Gross State Product (GSP), contributing $133.6 billion to the state’s economy in 2024. Without tourism, Florida households would pay $1,730 more annually in state and local taxes alone to sustain current levels of revenue.
