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.