Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJuly 12, 2018

America’s economy is humming along, and it should stay that way for a while. Nevertheless, depending on how the trade war between the United States and other countries works out, consumers could find themselves strapped for cash this time next year. That was one take from a Thursday meeting of the Economic Estimating Conference, in […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2018

The Florida Lottery projects an increase in sales from new vending machines and other equipment provided through a new multi-million dollar agency contract. Lottery representatives on Wednesday presented to the state’s Revenue Estimating Impact Conference, a roundtable of state economists. Lawmakers use their projections to craft the state budget each Legislative Session. Details on the […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 25, 2018

State government can’t count on continued money from Seminole Tribe of Florida casinos, a roundtable of state economists decided Thursday. After taking a pass on the issue earlier this month, the Revenue Estimating Conference agreed to label the money—over $200 million a year—”nonrecurring.” In other words, not likely to repeat. Lawmakers can still decide to count the expected funds […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 9, 2018

A roundtable of state economists Tuesday decided to take a pass on adopting a forecast for Indian gambling dollars that flow to the state. The Seminole Tribe of Florida pays over $200 million a year into state coffers as part of a deal that guarantees it exclusivity to offer certain games, especially blackjack. And even […]

Michael MolineOctober 12, 2017

Florida’s tax structure will produce only $52 million in gains on existing state spending during the coming fiscal year, and will leave lawmakers more than $1 billion in the hole during each of the two budget years after that. That doesn’t count what the state needs to spend to recover from Hurricane Irma. The news […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2017

The Legislature’s chief economist has told lawmakers that next year’s relatively tiny budget surplus will be erased because of costs from Hurricane Irma. Amy Baker, director of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, presented a working version of the state’s long-range financial outlook to the Joint Legislative Budget Commission on Friday. She explained that extra costs to […]

Michael MolineApril 14, 2017

House and Senate budget negotiators who’ll begin conference negotiations next week will have to account for more than 1,700 additional students, state economists concluded Friday. That may not sound like a lot in the context of the more than 2.8 million kids enrolled in the PreK-12 system. Still, it adds up to nearly $12.3 million […]

Michael MolineApril 7, 2017

Florida-Approves-5-Nurseries-To-Grow-Medical-Marijuana-1024x1024.jpg

No need to worry about the hit to general revenues from the Senate’s medical marijuana sales tax exemption. The state’s Revenue Estimating Conference estimated Friday that the bill might reduce tax receipts, but not enough to notice — even when accounting for the non-state residents who would qualify for cannabis cards if the bill becomes […]

Michael MolineMarch 24, 2017

Legislation that would exempt medical marijuana from sales taxes would cost $24.3 million per year to Florida’s tax receipts, according to an estimate by state economists Friday. HB 1397, by Fort Myers Republican Ray Rodrigues, is one of five medical marijuana bills to enact Amendment 2 that are circulating in the Legislature. It would impose […]

Michael MolineMarch 17, 2017

The Legislature will have $271 million more than it expected to spend this year, but close to 90 percent of the new money is a one-shot deal, and won’t help budget writers with ongoing demands upon a state budget projected at close to $83 billion. State economists arrived at their new forecast during a revenue estimating conference Friday. […]

Tag: Amy Baker
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Trade war could take bloom off rosy economic outlook, economists say

New equipment should boost Lottery revenues, agency says

‘Risky money’: Gambling dollars unlikely to repeat, forecasters say

All in—or out? Gambling revenue puzzles state economists

Irma confounds already straightened state budget prospects, committee learns

State surplus money ‘gone’ because of Irma

State economists expect an additional 1,700 PreK-12 students next year

Cost of tax exemption for medical marijuana would be minimal

Revenue conference prices sales tax exemption for medical marijuana

Florida’s revenue picture improves a little — but not enough to really matter