Florida's population slows further

State economists have told legislative leaders that Florida's population continues to slow, in another sign of the poor economy and the loss of luster of the Sunshine State. Economist Amy Baker, in an email sent out a few days ago, reported that Florida's final population estimate as of April, 1, 2007, was 18,680,367, unchanged from the October 2007 estimate.

"In the short run, the outlook for population growth is for much slower growth than was previously forecast in October 2007," Baker wrote. "Instead of the increase of nearly 300,000 persons that was anticipated in the fall for 2008, the new projection calls for 171,608 or slightly less than 1 percent growth."

Starting in 2009, growth should exceed 1 percent a year, Baker said: "These increases approximate adding a city the size of Tampa every year." By April 2012, the state's estimated population should be 19,976,994, with Florida breaking the 20-million barrier around June of 2012.    

Comments

[Bob]

Frowth?

Lost its luster? What's not to like about endless strip malls, big box retailers, gated communities, and condos where once was nothing but useless pine trees and wetlands?

The developin's still good here in the Sunshine State. But hurry on down, them envirowackos are trying to scare folks into thinkin' thar ain't no good land left.

See--We are killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
Ask all those people moving up to NC, Tenn. and other southeastern and s'western states---other places where it's not so cold, and you can actually get in your car and go somewhere without having to sit in traffic 30 minutes to go 3 miles. They all say seasons (which we can't affect) and traffic and the unrestrained ugly development are the reasons they don't like Florida.
Now the numbers are backing it up--but lord knows there are plenty still coming.

I've got a friend who built a place in the North Carolina mountains, just sold their South Florida home (at a big discount) and are leaving the state. If his situation is any indication, Florida's growth-based economy is going to have to trouble in the coming years.

Not shocking. Even our governor is trying to move to Washington D.C.

That's interesting. I wonder why they think population growth will be rekindled in 2009 from its current dormant state? And I wonder what the major factors are in stalling our population growth? Illiquid housing market? Taxes? Insurance? Fear of hurricanes? Or, Florida is finally just not seen as the trendy place to live?

More people are leaving than arriving. How could this be turned into profit (for Florida of course)?

[orangeman]

hurray!

[LM]

Re: turning into profit... charge people a $1000 de-impact fee when they leave.

we have to make room for all the cubans we will be getting over the next 5 years

[alex]

Where in the article did it say more people are leaving Florida then are moving in? Also, did anyone think that the reason people aren't moving to Florida is because they can't sell their house elsewhere? Hello....the entire nation is in a slump, not just one state.

[bobo]

That's true. I was reading an Atlanta newspaper over the weekend and one of their editorials dealt with the unfairness and excessivness of property taxes. Sound familiar?

[Ferengi]

...An exit tax! Yes, yes, yes...!

[Murf]

Suits me just fine if Florida grows slower. In fact, I wish we would lose more than we gain. Overdevelopment has ruined so much of the natural beauty of Florida. High taxes, insurance, hurricanes, endless strip malls, jammed roads and condos all over the place have finally made Florida an undesirable place to live and we the taxpayers will pay dearly for the folly of our government officials allowing development to crush us under the onslaught.

[Murf]

Suits me just fine if Florida grows slower. In fact, I wish we would lose more than we gain. Overdevelopment has ruined so much of the natural beauty of Florida. High taxes, insurance, hurricanes, endless strip malls, jammed roads and condos all over the place have finally made Florida an undesirable place to live and we the taxpayers will pay dearly for the folly of our government officials allowing development to crush us under the onslaught.

Build it, and they will stop coming!

12:22

have you ever driven in Phoenix or Charlotte? Grass isn't always greener my friend

[Marc]

Now that Fidel is gone, all the Cubans will soon return home (as they have been wanting too for a long, long time). This will further decline our population and decrease the home prices. I bet the home prices in Miami will take a big hit.

[fairplay]

Come on up to Whitefish, Montana. We've got lots of room and our economy is stable. We still don't have a million people in the fourth largest state in the country. We're so under populated we have only one area code for the whole state.

No traffic, low crime, no love bugs, low humidity, clean air and water.

Four seasons, fishing, skiing, boating, golf, horse country, mountains, photography, lakes, rivers, moose, eagles, elk, trout, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, American History, Lewis & Clark, canoeing, snowmobiling, bike trails, www.whitefishrealestateinc.com

[Dee]

Isn't this grand, Florida is no longer known as a "free ride" for anyone wanting to enjoy great winter weather, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world etc.

The old joke was Florida did not have an income tax because no one had an income. While we don't need an income tax we are making progress in gaining residents who have an income and can support themselves while losing the freeloaders and cheapskates.

There is a rainbow about to shine thru.

[Jed]

Montana hear I come! Bet them trout just jump into the bucket. Bet they ain't always dream'n up ways to get your last penny either. Bet they ain't got them hurricanes and all. Bet the drink'n water tastes good. Bet that sun sets just right behind them mountains. Bet they ain't got them no see em bugs suck'n the last blood cell out of ya either. Bet ya can even build one of them snowmen in the winter and go snowmobil'n and all.

[Rodger]

Jed are ya loadin up the family and movin to montana? maybe your girls name is beverly!

Rodger, leav'n everthing behind but my dawg and fish'n pole.

[Rodger]

lol lol Good for you. have any room for a clown named Christ?

Population is down and so is tourism.

Will it ever dawn on Florida residents that developers and realtors are parasites feeding off of the natural beauty of our state, and that once they have succeeded in sucking it dry, they will beat a path to the next hot area and leave us with nothing?

We have a chance to salvage something here. Vote DEM, the party that tries to restrain growth, and against the selfish, greedy, parasitic GOP, always the lackeys of the growth industry.

Vote against their irresponsible tax plans, with which they tempt you to trade our state's future for a little tax cut. Vote NO to their attempts to destroy your local government, and centralize all regulation under their control in Tallahassee. Get involved, Florida, and fight these selfish carpetbaggers!

Florida is estimated to be the nation's 3rd biggest state by 2010 jumping ahead of New York.

We are slowing in growth because our PROPERTY TAXES are too high.

Our taxes are high because investors drove up home prices and now they want a big tax cut to help them out of their mess.

Home prices are estimated to fall back to pre-boom levels and then where will our government be when we still have all these ridiculous tax reforms on the books? How will we pay for education or services then?

[John]

This really doesn't shock me, considering the cost of living is too high here, and the living wage is so low. The average person can barely get by in Florida.

-John
www.patrioticactivist.com

Complain all you want about property taxes, Florida still does not have a personal income tax, nor the kind of personal property taxes, like for cars and boats, that other states have.
Yet people are leaving, or not coming here, because of that one basic thing: quality of life. And that is what the developers and realtors have killed. Maybe now that they have ruined Florida, they will do like these other people, and move on somewhere else to build their strip malls and big-box centers that are just like every other strip mall and big-box center..

[rick]

the rich came, sembler builds what ever he wants, they keep paying themselves the northern wages; but they count on no unions and poverty wages. did they ever lower prices of products from this crime, NO. they just got richer,a floridians lined up to take the bait. no you have northern priced homes, higher taxes, higher insurance and all you do is say at least you have no state income tax? i've checked out compriable cities back home and it is now cheaper to live in many parts and burbs of chicago, columbus, itacka, and more. with the double and triple wages the state taxes don't eat up the income when placed against our killer taxes and insurance with subprime wages. florida has always tried to do it on the cheap and now it has come back to bite them. yes we are stuck here for lots of reasons, but i did do my homework and plenty of places are far better off. stablize the wages is the first step. and stop wasting public money privatizing everything that in all cases has cost more. good luck, i'm going to try to leave at retirement and spend my pension elsewhere. just keep putting the same people in power here, i need you to fund my pension when i leave. bye

8:40pm

Our taxes are too high because of the drunken government spending.

Remember, taxes sre the people's money

rick,

your pension may become a 401k soon

[Jason Straight]

What party has controled the state with the iron fist..Is the liberal tree hugging wining Dems for Miami ?Beach and Key West...Hey its the GOP that flushed this state.Why dont we kickem out n get some DEms..
we keep votin fer dem GOP guys and always are gettin screwed ..HUH???

Growth for the sake of growth isn't economic development, its insanity.