Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineAugust 13, 2018

State economists on Monday found millions of extra dollars for the state’s public schools, but also a $29 million shortfall in takings from tobacco taxes and a landmark legal settlement with the tobacco companies. The Revenue Estimating Conference projected that $128.4 million would remain unspent at the end of this fiscal year within the Educational […]

Michael MolineAugust 7, 2018

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Florida’s Medicare managed care program will cost $732 million less that the Legislature provided during this fiscal year, a panel of state economists concluded Monday. But the rate of savings in that program will slack off as the program matures, said Amy Baker, coordinator for the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research. She chaired […]

Michael MolineJuly 31, 2018

Property tax revenues will remain stable during the next few years, according to state economic forecasters — meaning no big surprises there when the Legislature gets to work on the next state budget. The Florida Revenue Estimating Conference met Tuesday morning to review trends in “ad valorem” tax receipts. Final numbers were expected later in […]

Michael MolineJuly 24, 2018

State government’s self-insurance fund faces a $14 million shortfall during the 2019-2020 fiscal year, driven in part by the cost of repairing Hurricane Irma’s damage to state property and medical inflation. Florida’s Revenue Estimating Conference, comprising top state economists, arrived at the figure Monday. ”The Legislature’s going to have to address that,” said Amy Baker, […]

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 […]

Tag: Amy Baker

Economists find good news for schools, bad news for Medicaid

Medicaid managed care costs running well behind projections

Florida’s property tax outlook: ‘No bad news coming’

State’s self-insurance fund projected to run low again next year

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