TaxWatch Analyzes Governor Scott’s Proposed Budget

February 8, 2015

The latest Budget Watch Report from Florida TaxWatch, released Thursday, analyzes and explains Governor Rick Scott’s proposed $77 million budget plan for FY 2015-16.

“We are pleased to present our annual review of the Governor’s budget recommendations to help taxpayers understand what it is in the 350 page budget proposal and how the spending plan will affect them,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute and government watchdog. “Understanding the state budget is critical for citizens to be truly informed about their government. In addition to the Budget Watch series, which reports on Florida’s budget process throughout the year, we encourage taxpayers to review our two-page primers on different Florida government programs, to learn what the budget funds and why.”

The report highlights important spending issues and analyzes proposed tax cuts and cost savings recommendation, and shows how the budget will impact the general revenue fund. It also compares the proposed budget, by agency, to both current year expenditures and the agency legislative budget requests.

The proposed budget contains tax cuts, forward-thinking investments and efficiency improvements recommended in Florida TaxWatch research. One of tax cuts included in the $673 million package is the reduction of the state portion of the Communications Services Tax. Florida’s statewide Communications Services Tax levy is the highest in the nation. In addition to calling for a reduction in the Communications Services Tax, Florida TaxWatch has also recommended that the Legislature eliminate the sales tax on commercial leases.

“The Governor’s budget includes smart investments like cutting taxes, while increasing spending on things that are important to Floridians, such as education and the environment, and still maintains healthy reserves,” said Kurt Wenner, Vice President of Research of Florida TaxWatch. “Florida TaxWatch will continue to urge the Governor and the Legislature to include other cost savings and policy improvements in the final budget, such as those included in the 2015 Florida TaxWatch Government Efficiency report, which will result in billions of dollars of savings for Florida taxpayers for years to come.”

To read the full TaxWatch report, click here.

Comments

One Response to “TaxWatch Analyzes Governor Scott’s Proposed Budget”

  1. Mark T on February 8th, 2015 8:14 pm

    “Non-Partisan” Sure it is !

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