Florida TaxWatch gearing up to scrutinize 2030 U.S. Census count

One of the most prominent government watchdog groups in Florida has appointed eight people to scrutinize the 2030 U.S. Census.

Florida TaxWatch Census Institute has developed a list of business and community leaders from across the state to serve as a check on  the upcoming people count. The purpose of the panel is to ensure the census is complete when it is conducted in four years.

Overseeing the panel  will be Clyde Diao, the current Chief Economist and Co-founder of the Regional Economic Consulting.  Diao is also the former Deputy Policy Coordinator for the Executive Office of the Governor between 2000 to 2020 and was Florida Governor Liaison for the 2010 Census.

TaxWatch leaders say “Florida is already at a disadvantage when it comes to accurately counting its residents.” Since the state is growing in population so quickly, its national representation in Congress is not reflective of the estimated 23 million people, according to the watchdog group.

“Florida has a history of census undercounts, which cost the state billions in federal funding. An accurate and complete count in 2030 is vital to secure Florida’s fair share of federal dollars,” said TaxWatch President and CEO Jeff Kottkamp.

“In addition, a census undercount has diminished our state’s political power in Congress. Florida TaxWatch is preparing now for the 2030 Census, sharing ways businesses and individuals can take action today to support a complete 2030 count — from staying informed to encouraging employee participation to investing in community outreach.”

Diao said there’s no overestimating the value of an accurate Census count.

“The Census count is crucial as it determines funding Florida will receive from the federal government over the next 10 years. This funding supports essential services like schools, hospitals, roads, and emergency response, directly impacting our quality of life. We need to reach out to everyone, particularly those who are harder to count, to maximize participation,” Diao said.

The members of the Florida TaxWatch Census Institute Advisory Board include:

— Rachel Walter, Senior Innovation Catalyst at Lee Health.

— Herman Castro, Manager of Technology Transformation Services at Ernst & Young.

— Kathryn Horton, Kathryn A. Horton Certified Public Accountants.

— Albert Kaminsky, Vice President of State Government Affairs at Spectrum.

— Andrea Keiser, Managing Partner at Keiser Legal.

— Ryan Patel, Chief Operating Officer, Kyra Solutions, Inc.

— Spencer Pylant, Regional Manager of External Affairs at TECO.

— Lexie Savedge, Public Relations and Public Affairs Director at SalterMitchell Public Relations.