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Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

Fausto Gomez, President of Gomez Barker Advisors, recently joined the Board of Trustees of Florida TaxWatch, the taxpayer research institute and watchdog organization. With his addition, TaxWatch says it’s bringing one of Florida’s “most-respected government relations counselors” on board. “We are thrilled to welcome Fausto Gomez,” TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said in a […]

Staff ReportsMay 15, 2018

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Asked for a 30-second ‘elevator speech‘ on why voters should choose ‘yes’ for Amendment 2 in November, Florida TaxWatch president Dominic M. Calabro didn’t blink. “If you don’t vote ‘yes,’ either you or your neighbors will see massive tax increases and great deal of property tax dissatisfaction … anger even, if we see property taxes jump […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2018

Per the Florida Times-Union reportage of Wednesday’s Florida Taxwatch media call, $12.5 million state money for the Talleyrand Connector was a “turkey” in the state budget. The Talleyrand Connector will tear down Jacksonville’s current Hart Bridge offramps, routing traffic toward JAXPORT and the Sports Complex. The “turkey” designation was because the money circumvented usual process, added in late […]

Michael MolineApril 4, 2018

Florida’s new $88.7 billion state budget contains 87 “turkeys” worth $147.5 million, Florida TaxWatch announced Wednesday, including nearly $120 million in transportation projects slipped in by state legislators without formal evaluation. That helped starve arts spending. The Department of State had ranked 489 cultural, museum, and other arts projects worth $41.6 million, but the Legislature […]

Jim RosicaMarch 16, 2018

Talk about pre-emption. With Gov. Rick Scott speedily approving the 2018-19 state budget and issuing line-item vetoes just two days after it hit his desk, Florida TaxWatch was prevented from holding its signature event: The annual presentation of “Budget Turkeys.” “This historically, exceptionally fast turnaround time did not allow Florida TaxWatch to fully complete the meticulous […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 10, 2018

Tradition abounds in Tallahassee as Florida lawmakers return to begin the people’s business for 2018. The annual 60-day Legislative Session began Tuesday with Rick Scott’s State of the State address — his last as Governor — followed by the custom of opening statements from each chamber’s leader charting past accomplishments and future goals. But among […]

Jim RosicaNovember 17, 2017

Chris Hart IV, who last was with Florida TaxWatch, will be the next CEO of the statewide Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers association, according to a Friday press release. He starts Dec. 4. Hart “will provide strong leadership to our association,” said Marcia M. Johnson, Franklin County Clerk and Comptroller and 2017-18 Board President, in a statement. […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 7, 2017

After hearing support from Gov. Rick Scott, the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday cleared a measure that would amend Florida’s constitution to require a legislative supermajority in each chamber to create or increase a tax or fee. The proposed language defines a supermajority as two-thirds of membership and would require 60 percent voter […]

Staff ReportsOctober 31, 2017

It’s that time of year to be frightened – not by ghosts or goblins, but by Florida’s tax rules on candy. Every year, Florida TaxWatch, the nonpartisan government watchdog, uses Halloween to demonstrate the state’s boggling rules on what gets taxed and what doesn’t. “Groceries are generally exempt from Florida sales tax, but candy can get confusing,” it says. […]

Guest AuthorAugust 9, 2017

Ask the average Floridian on the street, “Who does the business of state government?” and you’ll likely hear responses such as the governor or the name of a local senator or representative. Though these are figures the media covers on a daily basis, in reality, it is the thousands of government employees that make up […]

Tag: Florida TaxWatch
Listen to Tom Leek's first radio ad.

Personnel note: Fausto Gomez joins TaxWatch board

TaxWatch stumps for property-tax cap on November ballot

Lenny Curry, Aaron Bean, Marco Rubio claim Jacksonville Talleyrand Connector is no ‘turkey’

Florida TaxWatch finds $147.5 million in ‘turkeys’ in state budget

Quick budget turnaround cuts TaxWatch off at the pass

Florida TaxWatch turns focus to taxpayers with annual Session event

Personnel note: Chris Hart IV to head Court Clerks group

With Rick Scott’s blessing, tax supermajority clears committee

Taxes tricky for Halloween treats, TaxWatch says

Dominic Calabro, Bob Ward: Without state workers, there is no Florida