By contrast, housing and utility costs take 1 hour and 19 minutes, health and medical care takes 55 minutes, and food requires 44 minutes. This growth on a percentage basis is the smallest annual increase since 1990 and the fourth smallest since Florida TaxWatch began charting tax growth in 1977. Tax growth at all levels of government has slowed during the last ten years, compared to the decade of the 1980s. This is especially true at the state and local level. Past Taxpayer Independence Days have been revised to reflect changing estimates.
All years cited in discussion of Tax Freedom Day are calendar.
The Tax Index is on a fiscal year basis. Florida TaxWatch, May 2000. The statewide average millage rate in 2000 is 21.29 mills, down from 21.88 in 1999. In fact, the average millage rate has remained between 21 and 22 mills since 1991. Non-ad valorem assessments, however, have proliferated.