Dominic M. Calabro is President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida TaxWatch, a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan government watchdog and research institute. Florida TaxWatch was founded in 1979 to improve government productivity, taxpayer value, and citizen understanding and encourage responsible participation by Floridians in their state and local governments. This is accomplished through high quality research and civic engagement, which advance productivity and accountability throughout Florida government. This timely research is used to identify how economic, fiscal, taxing, spending, and regulatory decisions affect the economic livelihood and quality of life for all Floridians. To date, approximately 70% of Florida TaxWatch's government cost-saving recommendations have been implemented, worth over $6.2 billion or $1,060 in added value for each Florida family.
Calabro serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards Foundation, Inc., which recognizes, rewards, and replicates outstanding government productivity and innovative cost-saving achievements throughout Florida government worth over $7.6 billion to date. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Florida Education Foundation.
Calabro is an "almost native" Floridian, having moved to South Florida from New York at the age of eleven. After attending Catholic school, including four years at Catholic Seminary, he graduated with high honors from Broward Community College, later receiving his Bachelor's degree with highest honors from Florida International University. He also holds a Master's degree from Florida State University and will soon receive a second Master's degree in public finance and budgeting.
Before joining TaxWatch in early 1980, Calabro served as a graduate budget analyst with the Florida Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Under Calabro's leadership, Florida TaxWatch has earned and maintained the respect of the state's most highly regarded and influential leaders, and has earned the credibility and respect of the citizens of Florida as well as the state and national media.
In addition to many business and civic honors, Calabro was named by the national Junior Chamber of Commerce as one of the nation's Ten Outstanding Young Americans in 1994, and in 2006 Calabro was named the "Executive of the Year" by the Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE), it's highest honor.
Calabro resides in Tallahassee with his wife, Debbie, and has four children.
