Research
Synopsis of Collins Institute Florida State-Local Research Project
State-local relationships in Florida are often tense and combative but have become even more problematic in recent years as the state has shifted more and more responsibility on local governments while substantially limiting their ability to raise revenues through property taxes. State officials argue that local governments are awash in revenues from property taxes; locals claim they are severely strapped and forced to cut vital services. Read more »
Tough Choices Update 2009
The Collins Institute was right in 2005 and in 2008 when in Tough Choices: Shaping Florida’s Future we warned that the state was over-reliant on the housing boom and that difficult times were ahead. Now the state is dealing with those tough times, and we have once again updated our information to reflect the rapidly changing economic situation.
We continue to stress the gap between state and local revenues and the service needs of the state. We chart the trends in general revenue in the state and compare our spending to other Southeastern states. We examine changes in population and jobs and include information on tourism and unemployment. Finally, we revisit trends and cross-state comparisons in three all-important policy areas—preK-12 education, higher education, and Medicaid. We conclude with a call for leadership to make the tough choices needed for the state’s long-term well-being.
The original study and the updates are intended to contribute to informed debate and action on the premier challenges facing the state. We hope you find it interesting and useful.
White Paper on Florida Graduation Rates, July 16, 2008
In recent years graduation rates have come to the forefront of national and state level debates on education. Pushed into the spotlight with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), graduation rates have become a key component of promoting state accountability for high quality education.
Tough Choices Update 2008
In 2004, the trustees of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund supported Florida State University's partnership with the LeRoy Collins Institute to study Florida's future needs and how to finance those needs. The result was a booklength study titled "Tough Choices," with voluminous data and analysis, together with a shorter executive summary of the findings.
In our judgment, the report provided a basis for thoughtful Floridians to understand the state's future challenges, and proved prescient in predicting the current state fiscal crisis.
In 2007, the Fund's trustees provided support to allow Carol Weissert and David Denslow to update "Tough Choices," the results of which are included in this publication.
Read more about Tough Choices Update 2008 »
Florida Trends and Issues
We have assembled data used in the Tough Choices reports — as well as data on related topics — and have presented it here in one convenient location.
See full index of tables and charts »