Unemployment tab is $61M for Florida

Employers already paying record sums in unemployment compensation taxes can't be all too pleased to owe even more. Count Gold Coast Eagle Distributing President John Saputo among the unhappy campers — though not so much for the obvious reason that it's one more check his Lakewood Ranch beer distributorship must write to a government agency.

Last month, the Florida Department of Revenue mailed out reminder notices to employers that interest payments are due June 30 for each employer's share of $61.4 million the state owes the feds so far.

That's a payment for more than $2 billion in loans made to the state to cover Florida's share of the cost of unemployment benefits. The state's employers now owe an added $9.52 per employee, which totals nearly $1,800 for Gold Coast Eagle.