Search Results

You searched for: 9 2020

Can't find what you're looking for? Try our new Advanced Search

2020 Taxpayers Guide to the FY2020-21 Florida State Budget

Budget & Appropriations, Research, Taxpayer Guide
/ Budget & Appropriations, Research, Taxpayer Guide / 2 minutes of reading

After deducting the Governor’s vetoes, the net result is FY2020-21 appropriations totaling $92.270 billion, still a $1.3 billion increase over the previous year. As is usually the case, it is the largest state budget in history. In addition to many facts and figures explaining this year’s budget, past data are also provided to put it in historical context. We hope this annual budget pocket guide gives you the information you need to better understand where and how your hard-earned tax dollars are being spent.

Florida TaxWatch Releases Major Budget and Policy Recommendations for COVID-19 Economic Recovery

Press Releases
/ Press Releases / 3 minutes of reading

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its latest report, BRINGING FLORIDA’S BUDGET BACK FROM COVID-19 A Roadmap for a Responsible Recovery, outlining major budget and policy recommendations and options to reduce state spending and maximize existing revenue sources as Florida fights to recover from the significant fiscal impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The recommendations put forward today by FTW can conservatively produce a combined nearly $6 billion in annual positive impact on the budget and include proposed legislative actions for both short-term (FY 2020-21) and long-term consideration by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.

Bringing Florida’s Budget Back From COVID-19

Budget & Appropriations, Cost Savings, Research
/ Budget & Appropriations, Cost Savings, Research / 5 minutes of reading

As the nation recovers from one of the worst economic recessions in history, Florida continues to battle unprecedented fiscal challenges and budget shortfalls that have made business-as-usual in state government unsustainable. In response to this crisis, this report presents immediately actionable ideas in the event that a significant budget deficit occurs in FY2020-21.

Florida TaxWatch Releases 2020 Budget Turkey Watch Report

Press Releases
/ Press Releases / 5 minutes of reading

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released the 2020 Budget Turkey Watch Report: An analysis of the transparency and accountability of the budget process, its annual independent review of the state’s budget. The report, which has been released annually since 1986, promotes additional oversight and integrity in Florida’s budgeting process and is based on the principle that because money appropriated by the legislature belongs to the taxpayers of Florida, the process must be transparent and accountable, and every appropriation should receive proper deliberation and public debate. This year’s Budget Turkey Watch Report also highlights the particularly important need to scrutinize the entire budget, in the context of the uncertain fiscal environment created by COVID-19.

2020 Budget Turkey Watch Report

Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research
/ Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research / 2 minutes of reading

The report promotes additional oversight and integrity in the state’s budgeting process based on the principle that: because money appropriated by the Legislature belongs to the taxpayers of Florida, the process must be transparent and accountable, and every appropriation should receive deliberation and public debate. The budget review identifies appropriations that circumvent transparency and accountability standards in public budgeting. 

AHCA Warns Medicaid Costs Could Soar Due to COVID-19

Blog
/ Blog / 4 minutes of reading

Florida’s Medicaid program is projecting a significant shortfall (approximately $1 billion) in the 2020-2021 budget due to the ballooning Medicaid enrollment (largely due to the impacts of COVID-19). As more and more Floridians lose their jobs and their health coverage due to the economic downturn, many turn to Medicaid as their form of healthcare Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) forecasts that there will be an additional 437,390 Floridians turning to Medicaid for their health care in the coming new fiscal year, which starts July 1. The increase in enrollment could potentially increase the overall cost in the coming year by as much as $3 billion; however, the state is not on the hook to cover the full $3 billion due to the federal-state partnership for Medicaid financing, formally known as the Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage (FMAP). Florida is expected to pay about $1.07 billion of the $3 billion, based on AHCA’S analysis.

STATEMENT: Florida TaxWatch Urges Families to Get Prepared During 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

Press Releases
/ Press Releases / 2 minutes of reading

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement urging Florida families to take the opportunity to stock up on essential items and get prepared for the upcoming hurricane season during the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday which begins Friday, May 29 and runs until Thursday, June 4.

Taxpayer Independence Day 2020

Research, Taxes
/ Research, Taxes / 1 minute of reading

Every year, right around the usual April 15 deadline to pay your federal taxes, Florida TaxWatch releases our Taxpayer Independence Day report. This marks the symbolic date that Floridians are finally earning money for themselves–not for the government. This assumes that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local tax obligations. This measure of tax burden is based on the relative size of all taxes paid in Florida to our state’s total personal income and serves as a gauge for how fast government is growing versus our ability to pay for it. 

Complete your 2020 census questionnaire. It takes 10 minutes. It’s your civic duty

Op-Eds
/ Op-Eds / 3 minutes of reading

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.

Become a Member

Support Responsible
Taxation & Government Spending

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.

Explore Membership

Donate →
Donate →
Scroll to Top