Center for Competitive Florida

Florida TaxWatch Center for Competitive Florida Mission/Background

The Center for Competitive Florida at Florida TaxWatch (CCF) was established by action of the Board of Trustees in the Spring of 1997 to complement the tax and fiscal policy research and advocacy of Florida TaxWatch. In creating the Center, the Board acted to maintain the undiluted and specific focus of Florida TaxWatch, while acknowledging that there are myriad issues relating to Florida′s long-term economic sustainability and competitiveness that indirectly, but inescapably, affect the fiscal soundness of Florida and the wellbeing of its citizen taxpayers.

After several years of ad hoc operation, during which time Florida TaxWatch-CCF assumed the lead role in as many as a dozen research projects of great significance to the State and of demonstrable value to our elected officials, the Trustees, as part of the 25th Anniversary review of Florida TaxWatch's Strategic Plan, elected to make fully operational the Center for Competitive Florida. Florida TaxWatch–CCF is guided by a distinguished volunteer Advisory Board and operates in conformity with the principles, standards, and processes of Florida TaxWatch. All projects and project performance shall be fully compliant with the research guidelines and procedures as established by Florida TaxWatch on May 23, 2005. As an integral part of Florida TaxWatch, Florida TaxWatch-CCF is charged with the responsibility to:

• identify competitiveness trends and issues of statewide importance and applicability;
• conduct appropriate research and analysis;
• design and implement appropriate communications and public education program; and
• provide leadership and advocacy in policy formulation designed and directed to assure Florida's economic growth, security, and sustainability in the 21st Century.

Special Update: Florida′s Intangibles Tax Repealed

Center Research

To date, CCF has sponsored the following projects, each of which has created measurable positive impact on Florida's economy and, in turn, Florida's competitiveness:

• Searching for a Bottom, April 2008
• Florida's Labor Market Flexibility: A Good Sign in Difficult Times, February 2008
• Fiscal Stimulus: A Recession Antidote?, January 2008
• The 2008 Florida Economic Outlook, December 2007
• A Free Cuba and the Florida Economy, November 2007
• Metropolitan GDP : A New Measure of Local Economic Activity, October 2007
• Global Financial Fragility and the Florida Economy, September 2007
• Mid-Year Update on the Florida Economy, July 2007
• Florida′s Tipping Point: Balancing Physical & Economic Security Post 9-11, June 2007
• Bussiness Taxation in Florida: A Growing Threat to Our Competitiveness, May 2007
• Florida Must Become a Full Member of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, April 2007
• Economic Commentary, North and South, March 2007
• Economic Commentary, The Florida Economy in 2007, January 2007
• Affordable Housing in Florida, November 2006
• The Florida Economy at Mid-Year 2006, August 2006
• Special Update: Florida’s Intangibles Tax Repealed, July 2006
• Rising Labor Productivity Bodes Well for Florida's Economy, June 2006
• Immigration and Florida′s Economy, May 2006
• Florida′s Booming International Trade, March 2006
• The Cost of Living in Florida: What the Consumer Price Index Is and Isn?t Telling Us, February 2006
• 2006 Outlook for the Florida Economy, January 2006
• Termites in Florida′s Basement: The Economic Impact of National Policy on Florida′s Economy, December 2005
• Behind the Florida Jobs Machine, November 2005
• Hurricanes and the Florida Economy, September 2005
• Is There a Bubble in Your House?, August 2005.
• The Less Risky Florida Economy, July 2005.
• Florida Advancing in the Knowledge Economy, June 2005.
• Sales Tax Exemptions for Manufacturing and Research Developement Would Provide Florida With Needed Economic Developement Tools, April 2005.
• Legislature Must Acknowledge the Danger of the Tax on Substitute Communications Systems and Repeal it in 2005 Session, March 2005
• Putting an Ever-Increasing Minimum Wage in the State Constitution Is Misguided, October 2004
• The Impact of Hurricanes Charley and Frances on the Florida Outdoor Advertising Industry′s Impact on Florida′s Economy, September 2004
• The FAIR Amendment Would Constitutionally Impose Billions of Dollars of New Taxes, July 2004
• Joint Report of the Florida TaxWatch Cost Savings Task Force And The Center for Competitive Florida Task Force on Tax System Modernization, March 2003
• Modernizing State Tax Systems: An Update On The Streamlined Sales Tax Project, January 2003
• A Dangerous Idea: Amendment 5, September 2002
• Carefully Overhauling Florida's Tax System Over the Long Haul, March 2002
• Tax Reform Proposal's Claims Questionable, February 2002
• A Tax on Services Does Not Belong in the Constitution, February 2002
• Florida TaxWatch Position Paper: Modernizing Florida's Tax System, February 2002
• Florida Sales Tax Exemptions Overstated, February 2002
• Florida Joins the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, August 2001
• The Final Report of the Florida TaxWatch Ad Valorem Tax Task Force, April 2000
• Final Report of the 1999 Florida Taxpayers Bill of Rights Task Force, April 1999
• Final Report of the 2nd Intangibles Tax Task Force, March 1999
• Final Report of the Intangibles Tax Task Force, March 1998