As Florida House and Senate leaders prepare to negotiate the differences in their budget proposals passed last week, one potential sticking point will be tax cut packages. The latest Florida TaxWatch Budget Watch, an independent, nonpartisan monthly look at Florida's budget process, outlines the tax cut options thus far.

The Budget Watch outlines the full House tax cut plan, and mentions the Senate proposals that have moved through committees. One proposed tax-cutting measure has support in both the House and Senate - reducing the Communications Services Tax levied on cell phones, cable and satellite TV, and non-residential landline service. The total state and local tax rate can exceed 16 percent in parts of Florida. The proposals would reduce the state portion of the tax by 3.6 percentage points. Florida TaxWatch research has found that cutting the CST is the most justifiable way to give Floridians broad based tax relief.

"While both the House and Senate plan to reduce the Communications Services Tax, which Florida TaxWatch has consistently supported for more than 10 years, the House is delaying an opportunity to permanently eliminate the sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment until 2016," added Wenner. "Reducing this tax would improve high-wage, high-skill job creation in the manufacturing sector, and we are encouraged that the Senate is giving the proposal, supported by Governor Rick Scott, serious consideration."

Full report: "A Look at the House Tax Cut Package & Tax Reduction Legislation Moving in the Senate"

Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute that over its 33-year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens' hard-earned tax dollars.  Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web at www.FloridaTaxWatch.org.