State unemployment taxes tripling to help pay unemployment benefits

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - - State unemployment taxes are tripling to help pay unemployment benefits. Florida’s unemployment rate remains at 11.9 percent. Nearly 1.1 million Floridians are out of work. In January most businesses will see their per employee rate rise from 25 dollars to more than 70. How much a business pays depends on several factors including how many people the company has laid off or canned. David Hart with the Florida Chamber of Commerce says the only fix for the tax problem is job creation.

 “The solution to this problem is getting Florida back on track in terms of job creation," said Hart.  "As people go back to work that unemployment compensation tax rate will go down. So that’s the prescription and right medicine for this cold.”

The Chamber of Commerce will be watching the newly elected members of the state cabinet and legislature to see that they make good on their promise to create jobs.