Where and how well our school districts spend our education dollars can have a profound impact on student academic achievement and success. Historically, education makes up about one-fourth of Florida’s total budget. Florida TaxWatch believes that shifting education spending away from administrative and other expenses and toward classroom/instructional expenses is beneficial.
January 2022 marked the 12th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness Month. A recognized memorial since 2010, the designation seeks to raise human trafficking awareness and educate the public about the crime’s heinous impact on millions of people across the world. Given the criminal enterprise nature of human trafficking, there is also an inherent economic cost to communities and the state of Florida when exploitation prevents victims from leading dignified, generative lives. What are the costs and implications of human trafficking in Florida?
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the opportunity- and the need- to make telehealth as accessible as practicable. Telehealth helps reach audiences that may otherwise be unable to access care and provides the opportunity to improve patient care, treatment, education, and services, and ultimately bend the cost curve.
We understand the frustration that business and state leaders are trying to address- local ordinances that target businesses and prevent employers from thriving- but we want to caution that ultimately it is the taxpayer that will be left paying the bill and dealing with the potential unintended consequences. Increased expenditures from the exposure will translate into costs for the average taxpayer, dealt with in either of two ways, increased taxes and fees to cover projected legal costs, or a reduction in services provided to communities.
Have you ever wondered how Florida’s taxes stack up against the taxes in other states? If so, this report is for you.
The 2020 Census is finally over, capping off a historic effort to accurately count every person in the United States during a pandemic. A few interesting stories emerge from the latest enumeration of the nation, such as the growing population shift to the South and New York losing a congressional House seat by only 89 people. Although Florida was one of the so-called “winners” in the current census because it secured an additional seat in Congress, the result was not as spectacular as expected.
Florida’s economy depends in large part on the availability of reliable and affordable electric power. Like most states, Florida has a regulated energy market that considers electric power to be an essential service for its economic well-being.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch, the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, released Calling All Cars? Florida’s Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS-2) Underscores the Need for Procurement Reform, a detailed analysis of efforts made to replace the aging Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) equipment and ensure law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders can communicate quickly and effectively.
The Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) is a single 800 MHz unified digital radio network that permits state law enforcement officers and other first responders across the state to communicate more effectively.
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.
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