Research Library

Budget Watch – What a Difference a Year Makes

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

Last year, COVID-19’s arrival in Florida and the attendant economic shutdown had state forecasters—and virtually everyone else–predicting gloomy fiscal times for Florida. The 2020 legislative Long-Range Financial Outlook estimated that the 2021 Legislature would be facing a budget shortfall of $2.7 billion, and without significant spending cuts, the shortfalls would continue for at least two more years.

Debate in Public Schools

Blog, Education, Research
/ Blog, Education, Research / 5 minutes of reading

 How can scholastic debate and the business community work together to drive Florida’s students forward? One option is to look at existing programs, like the Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Debate Initiative, which now boasts approximately 15,000 students in every high school and learning center, every middle school, and in more than 100 elementary schools. The Initiative is a partnership between BCPS and local businesses, whose sponsorships and donations are critical in supporting debate opportunities for BCPS students.

Beyond the Pandemic—Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Postsecondary Training

COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Education, Research
/ COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Education, Research / 2 minutes of reading

Shifting demographics as the Baby Boomer generation exits the labor force will also fuel broader changes for the working population. For these reasons, the needs of the future workforce place a premium on human skills development—equipping individuals with the requisite skills to be prepared for a workforce full of disruption and displacement. Increasingly, postsecondary institutions and industry will both be crucial to training workers for an ever-evolving economy.

NESA Service Project at Hartwood Acres on Saturday, August 7th

Research
/ Research / 1 minute of reading

We have another opportunity to help the Allegheny County Parks. Hartwood Acres has a need for some trail work. We will be rebuilding a portion of a trail with a “turnpike”. This will help erosion as well as keeping the trail viable after rainfall. We will be doing the project this Saturday, August 7th at 9 am. The work sight is off Saxonburg Blvd roughly 1/2 mile past the main entrance to Hartwood Acres.  The project is not limited to only NESA members. If you are active in a unit and scouts need service hours for rank advancement please bring them. The more help we have the better.  The trail we will be working on is the White Trail loop. It is shown on the map you’ll see if you click read more. Equipment needs for the project are gloves, wheelbarrow (if you can bring one), and shovels. Please be sure to bring plenty of water. Thank you for your help!!

Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Florida’s Workforce

COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Research
/ COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Research / 2 minutes of reading

The third article in our Beyond the Pandemic series… In many ways, Florida’s workforce looks starkly different from when it first entered the pandemic over a year ago. Challenges with controlling the spread of COVID-19 precipitated the widespread use of remote work and other digital formats across the state. These changes accelerated workforce trends that were present before COVID-19 (such as automation) and now foreshadow a future workforce that will constantly face disruption and displacement.

2020 Annual Report

Annual Reports, Research
/ Annual Reports, Research / 4 minutes of reading

LIKE THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE MOON LANDING, OR SEPTEMBER 11, NO ONE WILL EVER FORGET WHAT 2020 WAS LIKE. There was not a single American (or virtually any citizen of the world) unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the stories of the past year will be told for generations. This is the story of how Florida TaxWatch worked through this crazy year.

Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for K-12 Education in Florida

COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Education, Research
/ COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Education, Research / 3 minutes of reading

FOR STUDENTS, LEARNING IS A CUMULATIVE PROCESS WHEREBY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS ARE DEVELOPED OVER SUCCESSIVE YEARS. As such, any sudden and large disruption to in-person instruction can have a cascading effect on student learning and life outcomes beyond formal education. Due to COVID-19, the unprecedented disruption in learning, especially for K-12 students, raises concerns about what unfinished learning may mean for academic achievement, mental health, and social development in the future. So what happens now?

Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report Review for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021

Broward Schools Bond Oversight (SMART Program), Research
/ Broward Schools Bond Oversight (SMART Program), Research / 4 minutes of reading

On May 28, 2021, Florida TaxWatch received the Bond Oversight Committee Quarterly Report for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 (“Quarterly Report”). This report provides updated information on the implementation of the District’s SMART Program and the use of general obligation bond funds to purchase and install technology upgrades, purchase music, and arts equipment, improve school safety, upgrade athletic facilities, and renovate educational facilities.

Addressing the Medicaid Funding Gap Through a Directed Payment Program

Health Care, Insurance, Research
/ Health Care, Insurance, Research / 2 minutes of reading

Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program that provides medical coverage to more than four million low-income Floridians. Administered by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, Medicaid is jointly funded through a federal cost-sharing agreement. During fiscal year 2020-21, Florida’s appropriated budget for Medicaid is $29.7 billion.

2021 Budget Turkey Watch Report

Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research, Taxpayer Guide
/ Budget & Appropriations, Budget Turkeys, Research, Taxpayer Guide / 1 minute of reading

The 2021 Budget turkey Watch report: an analysis of the transparency and accountability of the Budget processis the result of an annual independent review of Florida’s FY2021-22 budget by Florida TaxWatch. Budget Turkeys are items, usually local member projects, placed in individual line-items or accompanying proviso language that are added to the final appropriations bill without being fully scrutinized and subjected to the budget process.

Beyond the Pandemic: Long-Term Changes and Challenges for Health in Florida

COVID Recovery, Research
/ COVID Recovery, Research / 3 minutes of reading

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED THE HEALTH CARE LANDSCAPE ACROSS THE U.S. From ushering in broader adoption of telehealth services to increasing the incidence of behavioral health issues, the pandemic has created long-term changes and challenges that will likely persist beyond the official end of the public health emergency.

State COVID-19 Restrictions & the Road Back to Economic Normal

COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Research
/ COVID Recovery, Economic Development, Research / 2 minutes of reading

In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the world, with much of the country implementing various measures to minimize the negative health and economic impacts of widespread infection. State responses to the pandemic have been diverse and complex, with some instituting strict restrictions on businesses and others rolling back restrictions at a faster pace. At the same time, vaccine rollouts are accelerating, and state economic recoveries seem to be on varied paths with some approaching pre-pandemic levels of employment faster than others. The present analysis offers a cursory look at the relationship between state COVID-19 restrictions and their respective economic recoveries by running a preliminary correlation test between the two measures.

Letter to the Governor on E-Fairness

E-Fairness, Research
/ E-Fairness, Research / 1 minute of reading

On behalf of the members, staff, and distinguished volunteer leadership of Florida TaxWatch, led by our Chairman, U.S. Senator George S. LeMieux, I strongly encourage you to sign Senate Bill 50 – The Randy Miller Act – known by most as the 2021 E-Fairness bill or the taxpayer penalty relief endeavor.

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