Recognizing, Rewarding, Replicating.
The Government Productivity Awards are made possible through the generosity of Kyra Solutions, Inc., as Presenting Sponsor, and the vision of the late J.E. Davis and A.D. Davis, co-founders of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and co-founders of Florida TaxWatch. Since 1989, the Awards program has publicly recognized and rewarded state employees and work units whose work significantly and measurably increase productivity and promote innovation to improve the delivery of state services and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses.
Over the 30-year program, more than 16,000 nominations have been received, and awards have been given to state employees for saving or maximizing state dollars to the tune of approximately $11 billion.
The program is a major government improvement initiative created by Florida TaxWatch. In addition to Kyra’s generous support, numerous corporate, individual, and philanthropic contributors, supplement the awards program.
The awards program also recognizes achievements that are particularly beneficial to citizens and the private sector.
We welcome and encourage all state government employees and private citizens to submit nominations, and look forward to even greater taxpayer improvements in next year’s program.
Celebrating Innovation & Excellence in Florida State Government
2025 Government Productivity Awards
FL Dept. of Corrections
Streamlining the Department's Statewide HIV Drug Formulary
$28.5M COST Savings
In September 2025, the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) formed a work group to tackle its growing drug budget deficit and rising inmate medication costs. Partnering with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and its 340B program, the workgroup streamlined FDC’s statewide HIV drug formulary, replacing high-cost regimens with equally effective, more affordable alternatives. Since DOH providers began transitioning inmate patients in November 2025, FDC has avoided over $14 million in costs in just seven months, with savings projected to reach a quarter of a billion dollars over the next decade.
- $14M+ Saved in 7 Months
- $28.5–$33M Projected Annual Savings
- $250M Projected Savings Over 10 Years
FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Implementation of Block Grant Disaster Relief
$30M cost Savings
In 2025, the Florida Department of Agriculture (FDACS) became the first in the nation to finalize a disaster block grant agreement with the USDA, securing $675.9 million for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. Rather than requiring farmers, ranchers, citrus growers, and timber landowners to navigate overlapping federal programs after Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton, FDACS built a single state-administered application with a centralized online portal and dedicated Case Managers for every applicant.
- $675.9M Secured in Disaster Relief Funding
- First-in-Nation USDA Block Grant Agreement
- 550+ Applications Processed
FL Dept. of Transportation
Advancing Toll System Efficiency Through Automated Image Review
$5.3M COST SAVINGS
Starting in July 2023, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) formed a cross-functional team to optimize the license plate image recognition engine behind its TOLL-BY-PLATE Program. By enhancing database and workflow processes and refining business rules, the team increased automated image review performance, cutting the need for costly manual reviews even as traffic volume continued to grow.
- 6.46% Increase in Automated Image Review
- 76M+ Fewer Manual Reviews
- $5.30M+ in Cost Savings
University of Florida
Development of Low-Cost Citrus Pest Management Programs
$3.1M cost Savings
Dr. Qureshi at UF’s Southwest Florida Research and Education Center developed a novel tap-sampling method to monitor the Asian citrus psyllid, an invasive pest linked to the spread of citrus greening disease. Adopted across thousands of commercial acres through UF/IFAS Extension, the method lets growers get instant pest counts and spray only when needed, replacing routine calendar-based spraying with a data-driven approach that’s now used across the state.
- 50% Reduction in Insecticide Sprays
- $3.1M–$6M Saved per Spray Avoided
- Adopted Across 262,000+ Acres
University of Florida
Facilities Services Energy Efficiency Initiatives
$9.3M annual savings
UF Facilities Services implemented a data-driven energy efficiency program across more than 11 million square feet of campus, combining lighting modernization, occupancy-based HVAC controls, chilled water plant optimization, retro-commissioning, and expanded alternative energy. The unified strategy has driven measurable, recurring reductions in utility costs campus-wide.
- $9.30M Annual Utility Cost Avoidance (FY2025)
- 15.74% Reduction in Campus Energy Use vs. 2008 Baseline
- Up to $1.40M Saved at Chilled Water Plants
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Strengthened Technology Infrastructure and Reduced Statewide Technology Cost
$1.5M Annual Savings
FWC’s Office of Information Technology shifted from a traditional, governance-centric IT model to a service-first partnership embedded across the agency’s divisions. By shaping technology decisions around operational needs and field conditions, from headquarters to patrol vehicles, marine vessels, and remote conservation lands, OIT became a trusted advisor delivering secure, reliable service while cutting costs.
- $1.50M in Recurring Annual Cost Savings
- Agency-Wide Service Model Transformation
- Strengthened IT Support Across All Field Operations
FL Dept. of Health in Brevard County
Improved Claims Accuracy and Revenue Recovery
$923K COST SAVINGS
The Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Brevard County launched a Quality Improvement initiative in its Maternity department after data revealed over 1,000 unbilled claims and dozens of denials, largely due to documentation errors and coding inaccuracies. Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act model, the team overhauled workflows, strengthened documentation, retrained staff, and built new denial-management tools, dramatically improving claim accuracy and revenue recovery.
- $923,568.30 in Cost Savings
- Claim Approval Rate Up from 67% to 93%
- Significant Revenue Recovery Beginning September 2025
Florida International University
Increased Graduation Rates of FIU Students
$2.3M Annual Savings
Florida International University (FIU) transformed student outcomes through sustained investment in a centralized student success office, now known as the Office of Student Success Operations and Strategy (SSOS). Growing from one employee in 2014 to 22 today, the office coordinates strategy across colleges while letting each serve its unique student population, driving graduation rates that earned FIU the #1 national ranking for Economic and Social Mobility.
- $2.3M in Annual Cost Savings
- Four-Year Graduation Rate Up from 25% to 70% (2014–2024)
- #1 in the Nation for Economic and Social Mobility
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare
Created Florida's First Immersive Child Welfare Learning Lab
$1M COST Savings
The Florida Institute for Child Welfare (FICW), based at Florida State University, launched Florida’s first statewide experiential learning lab for the child welfare workforce. The VR-based Learning Lab gives professionals, agencies, and universities across the state access to immersive, evidence-informed training that most organizations couldn’t otherwise afford to build or sustain on their own.
- $1,009,000 in Cost Savings
- $1.09M in Equipment and Licensing Cost Avoidance
- First Statewide Child Welfare Simulation Resource
Florida State University
Beyond the Bid: Transforming Custodial Solutions for FSU’s Off-Campus Facilities
$485K annual savings
Florida State University (FSU) Facilities restructured its custodial contracting model to account for the specialized needs of 33 off-campus buildings, including labs, medical offices, and production facilities, that don’t fit the Main Campus cleaning model. A competitive solicitation drew 34 responses, resulting in a tailored multi-year contract that maintains service quality while significantly cutting costs.
- $485,000 in Annual Cost Savings
- Up to $3.6M Saved Over 9 Years
- 34 Competitive Proposals Reviewed
Our Generous Sponsors
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