Florida TaxWatch Looks Back at 2014 Session, Praises Rick Scott's Fee Cuts

Florida TaxWatch released a report on Thursday looking at the recently finished legislative session and how it impacted taxpayers across the Sunshine State. While acknowledging there was still work to be done, Florida TaxWatch offered the Legislature some praise.

"Florida TaxWatch applauds the Legislature for prioritizing important reforms for Floridians this year that will save taxpayers' hard-earned dollars," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, on Thursday. "While the Legislature took up and passed many bills containing TaxWatch recommendations based on our independent analysis, we look forward to them returning to Tallahassee next year to continue advancing cost-saving reforms, such as pension reform and telemedicine expansion."

Florida TaxWatch praised Gov. Rick Scotts proposal to roll back $500 million in fees, which the Legislature backed, and the creation of the Agency for State Technology to oversee state IT.

"Overall, the Legislature filed and passed fewer bills during the 2014 session than in any year since at least 2001, but many of them will result in a positive impact on Florida taxpayers," said Kurt Wenner, Florida TaxWatchs vice president of tax research. "One major positive legislative effort was to provide tax relief for the hard-working Floridians whose taxes were increased to pay for a budget deficit in 2009."