TaxWatch Research

Highly respected. Credible. Independent. That’s Florida TaxWatch research.

Every year for the past 32 years, the Florida TaxWatch team has produced numerous comprehensive and relevant public policy research publications in a variety of formats: in-depth Research Reports, concise Briefings and updates, budget-related Budget Watch, Economic Commentaries on Florida's economy, and our public forum/opinion pieces, Ideas in Action, all designed to generate positive fiscal and economic results and to keep Florida TaxWatch members and policymakers informed.
 
TaxWatch has a historical understanding of government, public policy issues, and the battles fought in the past necessary to structure effective solutions for the future. We frame the public debate going forward. Florida TaxWatch research exemplifies the power of knowledge, strategically placed and integrated at the right time, the right place, in the right manner, with the right people to help accomplish great things for the taxpayers of Florida.

 It’s Research that Gets Results!
 
 
 

Research By Issue Area

Most Recent Research


Expanding Floridas Global Economic Footprint
6/2013 This report illustrates the positive impact of business development and trade missions on Floridas economy, highlighting the opportunities the missions create for Florida businesses, and providing details on the countries that recent delegations have visited.


Implementing the CCSS: The Importance of Getting it Right
6/2013 The first in a developing series about Floridas implementation of the Common Core State Standards, this Briefing gives background on the CCSS, and makes the case that in order for Florida to be an educational leader and provide the workforce talent to strengthen and transform our economy, Floridians from every sector must commit to support our students and teachers in unprecedented changes in teaching and learning.


Preeminence Designation for Floridas Universities
5/2013 The 2013 Florida Legislature, with support from the Governor, passed landmark legislation that established the criteria by which the state can declare preeminent institutions of higher education within Florida’s State University System. Achieving the benchmarks required for preeminence will ensure that Florida public universities rank among the highest in the nation.


Economic Commentary: Foreign Direct Investment in Florida
5/2013 Florida has ample opportunities for economic expansion by increasing Foreign Direct Investment according to this month’s Economic Commentary from the Florida TaxWatch Center for Competitive Florida. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is a physical investment that a foreign company makes when they buy or open businesses in Florida.


2013 Turkey Watch Report with Governors Vetoes
5/2013 UPDATED: With Vetoes The 2013 Florida TaxWatch Turkey Watch Report identifies $106.8 million in Budget Turkeys. This annual Report identifies appropriations that appear in the budget at the last minute, bypassing the legislatively-established competitive process and receiving little or no public review. This years Report highlights 107 projects that deserve extra consideration for veto by the Governor.


2013 Turkey Watch Report
5/2013 The 2013 Florida TaxWatch Turkey Watch Report identifies $106.8 million in Budget Turkeys. This annual Report identifies appropriations that appear in the budget at the last minute, bypassing the legislatively-established competitive process and receiving little or no public review. This years Report highlights 107 projects that deserve extra consideration for veto by the Governor.


Economic Commentary: Floridas Gulf Research Cooperation
4/2013 For the past three years, 10 Florida universities and research institutions have been focused on researching the long-term effects of the BP oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico’s marine life, environment, and public health. This month’s Economic Commentary focuses on three Florida university-led entities’ recent research findings and developments, and how these findings make our state stand out in the scientific arena.


Focusing on Outcomes in Floridas Early Learning Programs
4/2013 This Session Spotlight focuses on legislation that adds structure and accountability to the states early learning programs and the Department of Education.


Bringing FL-SOLARIS to Life
4/2013 According to this Briefing, progress on the organization of state-owned lands and facilities records has been made, although there is more to be done. The large, yet basic database has been established, but the important tasks of maintaining its relevance and making improvements remain. Phase II of this project offers significant taxpayer value.


2013 Taxpayer Independence Day
4/2013 Sunday, April 21, is Florida Taxpayer Independence Day 2013, as estimated by Florida TaxWatch. On that day, Floridians are finally earning money for themselves–not for the tax collector. This symbolic date assumes that every dollar earned since January 1 goes to pay federal, state, and local tax obligations.


Making Florida a Major Manufacturing State
4/2013 Encouraging an increase in manufacturing would allow Florida to further diversify its economy and produce more high-wage jobs for Floridians. The Florida Legislature can help diversify Florida’s economy and create more high-wage jobs by eliminating the sales and use tax on machinery and equipment for manufacturing.


Repeal of Insurance Premium Tax Credit Raises Concerns
4/2013 Repealing an insurance premium tax credit that was designed to encourage insurance company jobs in Florida without fully assessing the impacts would be unwise, according to this Briefing from Florida TaxWatch.


Session Spotlight: Proposed Changes to High School Graduation Requirements
4/2013 This Session Spotlight looks at the three pathways being debated in the proposed legislation, and how each track can help students achieve their goals through targeted coursework. The Spotlight also points out that both bills could be strengthened through increased attention to more rigorous English Language Arts assessments and professional training for teachers.


Now is the Time for a Centralized IT Governance Agency
4/2013 A centralized agency with sufficient authority to set and implement enterprise-wide information technology is long overdue. Florida TaxWatch commends the Senate and the House for understanding the importance of technology governance and encourages the Legislature to establish a centralized State agency responsible for IT and business processes, with the necessary authority, as recommended by the Florida TaxWatch Government Cost Savings Task Force.


Putting the Trust Back in Trust Funds
4/2013 According to this Briefing, When the Legislature wants to sweep a trust fund, it should be required to introduce a separate general bill for each trust fund sweep. This would allow input from legislators and testimony from concerned parties, and require an up or down vote on each sweep.


Economic Commentary: Tampa Bay: Becoming an Export-Oriented Economy
3/2013 This Economic Commentary looks at the opportunities for increasing Tampa Bays export industry, and the new cooperative work the area is doing with The Brookings Institution as part of a nationwide initiative.


Florida Should Proceed with Medicaid DRG Implementation
3/2013 The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration should continue with its planned July 1, 2013 implementation of a prospective payment plan for Medicaid hospital inpatients based on a Medicaid Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system, according to this new Report from the TaxWatch Center for Health & Aging.


Reforming Floridas Claim Bill Process
3/2013 Floridas claim bill process is in need of reform. This process—by which persons can petition the legislature for payment of tort claims against government—has received increased attention in recent years due to high profile cases and large awards. This Report makes recommendations on reforming the system.


Summary of the ARNP Scope of Practice Summit
2/2013 This summary of the Florida TaxWatch Center for Health & Aging ARNP Scope of Practice Summit recaps the presentations and panel discussion from the Summit, which brought together state and national policy experts on the topic, and helped to advance reform discussions in the Capitol.


Economic Commentary: The Disproportionate Effect of Sequestration on Florida
2/2013 If the "Sequester" kicks in on March 1, the immediate cuts to the budget authority are $85 billion, and the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that spending will be reduced by $44 billion by the end of September 2013. It is incredibly important that everyone understands how detrimental these cuts will be to U.S.’s fourth largest economy and to its recovery from the Great Recession. This Economic Commentary details some of the effects of these automatic federal spending cuts on Florida.


Legislature Should Reduce Floridas Communications Services Tax
2/2013 This Briefing looks at the history of the CST in Florida, compares Floridas rates to other states, finding that Florida is the fourth-highest state in the U.S. for this tax, and recommends that the Legislature look to reduce CST rates to "benefit a wide range of Floridians, affecting virtually all individuals and businesses."


Modernizing the FRS: Switching to a Defined Contribution Plan
2/2013 Due primarily to its substantial and unpredictable long-term costs, the Florida TaxWatch Government Cost Saving Task Force has made recommendations to reform the current Florida Retirement System (FRS) for the past several years. Given the complexity of this issue, this Report is a further expansion, clarification, and reinforcement of these recommendations.


Looking at Florida's Municipal Pensions
2/2013 Some Florida cities are taking meaningful steps towards reducing their pension liabilities, according to this Report, released by Florida TaxWatch, and the LeRoy Collins Institute, housed at Florida State University.


Aligning Postsecondary Education with Modern Employment Needs in Florida
2/2013 To address the steps that Florida has taken and should continue to take to match our graduates to the industries that need a workforce with skill-specific education, this Briefing looks at two aspects of the issue: how the right degree can make a difference in lifetime earning potential, and how Florida’s Supply and Demand Portal can help students and employers achieve their goals.


Report on 2012 Justice Summit
2/2013 This Report includes a recap of the 2012 Justice Summit in Florida, as well as three pre-meeting recaps from the run up to the Summit.


Budget Watch - Governor Scott's Proposed Budget, FY 2013-14
2/2013 This Budget Watch looks at the details of the Governor's $74.2 billion proposed budget for FY2013-14.


Economic Commentary - Florida's 2012 Job Growth
1/2013 This month's Economic Commentary focuses on job growth in Florida during 2012. The analysis shows that Florida has continued its recovery from its most recent recession, showing strong job creation in a significant number of sectors.


Investing in Tourism: the Economic Impact of Expanding Florida Tourism
1/2013 The economic modeling done in this Report, looking at the impact of investing more in Florida's tourism industry, indicates that the Florida tourism industry reaching the milestone of 100 million annual visitors would create 121,298 jobs, and increase overall personal income for Floridians by $5.3 billion.


Government Cost Savings Task Force Report for FY2013-14
1/2013 Continuing a legacy that has resulted in the savings of at least $3.5 billion in Floridians' hard-earned tax dollars over the last four years alone, Florida TaxWatch added more than $1 billion in cost-saving options for lawmakers this year, with the release of this Report. This year's Report is the fifth in as many years from Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute and government watchdog headquartered in Tallahassee.


2012 Annual Report
1/2013
             
  Cost Savings Task Force 
Archived Research   Other Publications  
 
The Task Force has produced a menu of original solutions designed to assist our policy makers and elected officials with creating greater accountability in Florida's government.   

TaxWatch has a long history of taxpayer-centered research, going back to 1979.  Our Archive houses everything prior to 2009. 



  
From time to time, TaxWatch will publish papers by those not on our staff, letters from elected officials, speeches, and other non-research pieces.  Those are available here.


  

Voter Guides

2013 Taxpayer Independence Day


Economic Commentary: The Disproportionate Effect of Sequestration on Florida

Morgan McCord
Communications
Coordinator
850.222.5052
By Email           

 Mail
  
  Florida TaxWatch
  106 N Bronough St.
  Tallahassee, FL 32301
Office  
  850.222.5052  
Fax  
  850.222.7476