Press Releases

Tallahassee, 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.

Tallahassee, 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.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released the 2023 How Florida Counties Compare report, which examines Florida’s 67 counties and the myriad of local governments within the state, comparing the revenue and expenditure profiles of counties to give taxpayers an overview of how their local government stacks up against the other counties. 

Orlando, Fla. – Tomorrow, Thurs., May 18, from 12 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will host its 2023 Spring Meeting in Orlando. After the 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards Luncheon – which will honor two winners from Orange and Brevard Counties – FTW board members and guests will engage in issue-specific panel discussions and hear from several high-profile speakers, including keynote remarks from the Department of Education’s Senior Chancellor Henry Mack and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Director of Policy and Budget Chris Spencer. A prominent leader of the Central Florida business community will also be surprised with the prestigious FTW Chairman’s Award.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released Florida’s Certificate of Need Program Delivers High Quality Hospice Care, a report emphasizing the value and recommending the continuation of Florida’s hospice Certificate of Need (CON) program. The program, which is intended to increase statewide access to hospice care, allows for the addition of providers only if an area’s growth rate suggests there will be an unmet need – as determined by a population-based formula – for those services.  

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released $670 Million Added to the New State Budget Through the Sprinkle Lists Deserves Close Scrutiny During the Governor’s Veto Deliberations, an initial review of Florida’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget, focusing on the $670 million that was added through supplemental appropriations, or “sprinkle lists,” developed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Tallahassee, Fla. – The statement below, to be attributed to Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro, pertains to the final passage of HB 7063: Taxation during today’s House session. 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.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Impacts of Impact Fees on the Cost of Housing. Impact fees are (typically) one-time payments imposed by local governments on property developers to generate funds necessary to accommodate the impacts of new development on existing public facilities and services. FTW undertakes this independent research to better understand the effect of these fees on housing costs in Florida.

Chiefland, Fla. – Today, Fri., March 31, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that Chiefland Middle High School Principal Matthew McLelland is among the nine winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, Principal McLelland has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.

Lake City, Fla. – Today, Thurs., March 30, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee is among the nine winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, Principal Lee has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.  

Chiefland, Fla. – On Fri., March 31, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Chiefland Middle High School Principal Matthew McLelland with the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award (PLA), which identifies Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognizes and rewards their work, and promotes their transformational practices throughout the state. 

Bradenton, Fla. – Today, Wed., March 29, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that Oasis Middle School Principal Edna Bailey is among the nine winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, Principal Bailey has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.

Lake City, Fla. – On Thurs., March 30, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Richardson Sixth Grade Academy Principal Lisa Lee with the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award (PLA), which identifies Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognizes and rewards their work, and promotes their transformational practices throughout the state. 

Orlando, Fla. – Today, Mon., March 27, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that Rolando Bailey – Evans High School Immediate Past Principal, now Orange County Public Schools’ Area Superintendent for the Southeast Learning Community – is among the nine winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, Principal Bailey has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.

Bradenton, Fla. – On Wed., March 29, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Oasis Middle School Principal Edna Bailey with the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award (PLA), which identifies Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognizes and rewards their work, and promotes their transformational practices throughout the state. 

Middleburg, Fla. – Today, Fri., March 24, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will proudly announce that Middleburg Elementary School Principal Becky Wilkerson is among the nine winners of the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Awards (PLA). Through the program, Principal Wilkerson has also identified one deserving student to receive a full two-year Florida Prepaid College Scholarship.

Orlando, Fla. – On Mon., March 27, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Rolando Bailey – Evans High School Immediate Past Principal, now Orange County Public Schools’ Area Superintendent for the Southeast Learning Community – with the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award (PLA), which identifies Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognizes and rewards their work, and promotes their transformational practices throughout the state. The following day, Tues., March 28, the taxpayer research institute will also present Palm Bay Elementary School Principal Michael Mahl with the same award.

Middleburg, Fla. – On Fri., March 24, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) will honor Middleburg Elementary School Principal Becky Wilkerson with the Florida TaxWatch 2022-23 Principal Leadership Award (PLA), which identifies Florida’s most effective principals in high-risk K-12 public schools, recognizes and rewards their work, and promotes their transformational practices throughout the state. 

Florida TaxWatch has done considerable research on the communications services tax (CST) and has concluded that Florida’s CST rate is very high, relative to both other states and the sales tax on the purchase of other goods. A reduction in the tax rate would provide several benefits for taxpayers and the state.