Florida TaxWatch Hosts Annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla – Tonight, Florida TaxWatch is hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner, providing the opportunity for the state’s elected leaders and policymakers […]
Florida TaxWatch’s Annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner to be Held Today, Wed., Jan. 17 at Hotel Duval in Tallahassee
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – With the recent start of Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session, Florida TaxWatch is once again hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner
Florida TaxWatch, Associated Industries of Florida Outline Recommendations to Ensure Success of Florida’s Large-Scale Information Technology Projects
Press ReleasesFlorida TaxWatch, in collaboration with the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF), released a report titled “It’s Time to Reform Florida’s Information Technology Procurement and Oversight.” The report highlights Florida’s 25-year history of inadequately executed large-scale IT projects and offers recommendations for reforming the Florida Digital Service’s (FL[DS]) procurement and oversight processes to ensure their success. Key points from the report include: – FTW and AIF identified recurring problems in statewide technology projects, including poor planning, contracting, and oversight, leading to failures in accountability. – Since 1999, Florida has repeatedly restructured its state agency overseeing these IT projects, with the FL[DS] established most recently in 2020. – Public sector IT agencies like the FL[DS] struggle to compete with the private sector in hiring knowledgeable staff due to salary and work condition limitations, leading to an overreliance on consultants and vendors. – The report proposes 10 recommendations for the Florida Legislature, such as forming a joint committee on IT and offering incentives like signing bonuses to attract IT staff. Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro emphasized the need for the state’s IT projects to be delivered efficiently and within budget. AIF President and CEO Brewster B. Bevis highlighted the importance of Florida improving its IT processes for long-term success. For more details and access to the full report, including all recommendations, interested parties are directed to the Florida TaxWatch website. FTW, a nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog, has been working to enhance productivity and accountability in Florida government for over forty years.
Florida TaxWatch’s Annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner to be Held Tomorrow, Wed., Jan. 17 at Hotel Duval in Tallahassee
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – With the recent start of Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session, Florida TaxWatch is once again hosting its annual State of the Taxpayer Dinner
Florida TaxWatch Analyzes Florida’s Physician Shortage
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released Addressing Florida’s Escalating Physician Shortage: Strategies and Solutions, an analysis of Florida’s ongoing physician shortage and recommendations to
Florida TaxWatch Announces 24 Taxpayer Priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released a list of 24 taxpayer priorities for the 2024 Legislative Session, which begins on Tues., Jan. 9 and
Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its review of the Broward County School District’s Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovations and Technology (SMART) program
Florida TaxWatch and Florida Council of 100 Announce 2023 Government Productivity Awards Winners
Press ReleasesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, during a ceremony held in Tallahassee, Florida TaxWatch and the Florida Council of 100 jointly announced the winners of the 2023
Florida TaxWatch Summarizes Roundtable Discussion with Distinguished K-12 Principals
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released Fostering School Success: Unveiling the Effective Strategies of Florida’s Top Principals. This report provides a summary of a May 2023 roundtable discussion with five distinguished principals who were recognized through the government watchdog’s 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards, which is an annual program – established in 2013 and still unlike any other program in the country – that identifies and rewards principals who are creating meaningful change in their at-risk K-12 schools across the state.
Florida TaxWatch Releases The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 State Budget
Press ReleasesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Taxpayers’ Guide to Florida’s FY2023-24 State Budget, providing an overview of Florida’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget, which was passed by the Florida Legislature during the 2023 Legislative Session and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 15, 2023. The guide analyzes all appropriations for the new fiscal year that began on July 1, 2023, net of the governor’s vetoes, including the $117 billion General Appropriations Act (GAA), “back-of-the-bill” spending, and appropriations made in general bills. After the governor’s vetoes, these items total $118.7 billion in spending, which means Florida’s state budget has grown by 28.6 percent in the last three years, the largest three-year growth since the housing bubble and economic boom of Fiscal Year 2004-05 through Fiscal Year 2006-07.
Florida TaxWatch Examines Florida’s Medicaid Redetermination Plan and Options to Address the Coverage Gap
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida Medicaid Redetermination, which examines Florida’s Medicaid Redetermination Plan and options for Floridians who will no longer be covered through Medicaid, but are still below the poverty threshold. The briefing also touches on the responsibility of the state legislature to address this “coverage gap” on behalf of the 388,000 individuals who may not have access to affordable health care.
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Back to School Sales Tax Holiday Beginning Mon., July 24
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday beginning Mon., July 24.
Florida TaxWatch Announces New Hires, Staff Promotions
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch – the renowned taxpayer research institute and trusted government watchdog for more than 40 years – announced a roster of new hires and staff promotions.
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Two Sales Tax Holidays Beginning Saturday, July 1, 2023
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the two sales tax holidays beginning Sat., July 1, 2023 – the ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday (an extension of the existing sales tax holiday) and the new Gas Ranges and Cooktops Sales Tax Holiday.
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Governor DeSantis’ Budget Vetoes
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro released the following statement in response to Governor Ron DeSantis announcing $510.9 million in vetoes for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 state budget.
Florida TaxWatch Releases Quarterly Report for Broward SMART Program
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch released its review of the Broward County School District’s Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovations and Technology (SMART) program in its report Monitoring and Oversight of General Obligation Bonds to Improve Broward County Schools: SMART Program Quarterly Report Review for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2023.
Florida TaxWatch Releases 2023 Budget Turkey Watch Report
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2023 Budget Turkey Watch Report, an independent review of the state’s $117 billion Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget. Since 1983, FTW has provided Floridians with this additional level of oversight by identifying individual appropriations that circumvent a thoughtful and thorough budget process. The annual Budget Turkey Watch Report is based on the principle that, because funds appropriated by the legislature belong to Florida taxpayers, the process must be transparent and accountable, and every appropriation should receive proper deliberation and public debate.
Florida TaxWatch Presents APRNs as Solid Solution to Palliative Care and Hospice Physician Shortage
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Physician Shortages: Better Utilization of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Palliative Medicine Could Provide Relief, a briefing explaining how fully utilizing the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) workforce has the potential to significantly mitigate the existing physician shortage and similar issues that may arise in the future, particularly in palliative care and hospice facilities.
Statement by Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro on Gov. DeSantis Signing Tax Relief Package, Upcoming Sales Tax Holidays
Press Releases, TaxesTallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signage of HB 7063: Taxation, the state’s tax relief package, and the two upcoming sales tax holidays that will now be implemented on Sat., May 27 (Disaster Preparedness) and Mon., May 29 (Freedom Summer). To learn more and/or schedule an interview with President and CEO Calabro, please contact Aly Coleman Raschid at aly@on3pr.com or 850.391.5040.
Florida TaxWatch Releases Update on Labor Market Conditions
Press ReleasesTallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Labor Market Data Indicates a Cool-Down: Could Florida’s Workforce Experience a Cold Summer?, an economic commentary explaining how the dynamics of the labor market, which have given job seekers the upper hand since 2021, may begin to shift in favor of employers and ultimately neutralize. The commentary also explores how this change might impact Florida’s highly reactive economy.
