Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineAugust 16, 2018

Florida’s revenues appear steady for the immediate future, state economists concluded on Thursday. That means lawmakers can expect to have slightly more than $32 billion to spend when they write the state budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year. “It’s going to be a very stable picture for the Legislature, with no big changes,” said Amy […]

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 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 7, 2018

With Floridians purchasing fewer packs of cigarettes and a top cigarette company fighting to avoid settlement payments, state economists are forecasting a dip in tobacco tax collections and settlement revenues going forward. During a Tuesday meeting of the Revenue Estimating Conference, state economists said many smokers are smoking less and some are switching to “e-cigarettes” […]

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, […]

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 MolineApril 7, 2017

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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: Revenue Estimating Conference
South Ocean Boulevard is staying closed for the time being.

Calm waters ahead for revenues, state budget outlook

Economists find good news for schools, bad news for Medicaid

State economists lower forecast for tobacco tax revenues, settlement payments

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

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

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

All in—or out? Gambling revenue puzzles state economists

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