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Florida Budget: Tax Watch Groups
01/08/09 - 03:33 PM

Associated Press

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A government watchdog group says state government could save billions of dollars and ease future budget problems if it would just increase productivity, improving cost effectiveness, and maximize it’s revenue.

Florida TaxWatch Thursday released a report outlining 42 ideas that the group says could save the state $2.68 million dollars.

Lawmakers are meeting in a special session to deal with a shortfall of at least $2.3 billion in the current state budget that runs through June 30.

TaxWatch President Dominic Calabro says the state can’t tax it’s way out of it’s financial problems. Instead, he says, lawmakers need to find ways to do more with less.

Some of the recommendations being made by TaxWatch are renegotiating contracts for lower rates, leasing unused office space, and selling other assets that aren’t needed such as cars, property or buildings.

Other recommendations being made by TaxWatch include:
-expanding virtual higher education classes
-modifying or eliminating the class size reduction requirements
-tightening the Bright Future Scholarship Program
-increasing tax compliance
-adopting programs to help to reduce the prison population by reducing the number of repeat offenders
-and, forbidding elected officials from entering the DROP program. That program allows officials to briefly retire and receive thousands of dollars in a lump
sum payment. Then go back to their old job and collect both a full salary and pension.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)