TAMPA “ Contrary to popular belief, a new study suggests that Florida's retirees and senior citizens contribute much more to the state's economy than the state spends on them.

Not only are Florida seniors mostly self-supportive, they provide the state a net economic benefit of $1. 4 billion, according to the study by the consulting firm Thomas, Warren and Associates. The study was paid for by WCI Communities, a developer of senior communities.

But the head of the AARP in Florida warned those numbers don't tell the whole story, noting that services for the state's growing elderly population are stretched thin and continue to be underfunded.

The study found that in 2000, Florida residents 50 and older provided the state with about $2. 7 billion in economic benefits from sales tax and state fees, while costing the state about $1. 28 billion in health and human service costs. The difference “ about $1. 4 billion “ was the net economic benefit.

While over-50 residents make up about one-third of the state's population, they account for 52 percent of all spending, the study said. Those spending habits accounted for more than 4 million jobs, meaning that two out of every three jobs in Florida is affected by their spending.

On top of that, the state's 50-and-over residents paid about $4. 4 billion in property taxes in 2000, 47 percent of the total $9. 4 billion collected on residential and rental property.

"Mature residents provide tremendous economic benefit in terms of the taxes they pay, they impose very few costs on the community, and they spend a lot of money," said Gene Warren, president of Thomas, Warren and Associates, which conducted the study using 2000 Census figures and state and federal spending reports.

But Bentley Lipscomb, state director of AARP, a nonprofit organization representing people over 50, was critical of the study. He said that not enough money is being allocated by the state for nursing home costs through Medicaid, causing a crisis in Florida.

And it's gotten worse because people are living longer, he said.

"(The study) is somewhat misleading in that it would have you believe the state of Florida is spending what it should be in providing services to older people," Lipscomb said, noting that the state's Department of Elder Affairs has 15,000 people on a waiting list for services.

Still, state officials say they must continue to court retiring seniors because of the huge economic impact.

Pamella Dana, director of the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development, noted that the state's large population of seniors helped soften the impact of the recession and the loss of tourists when people stopped traveling after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

While others were cutting back, Florida's seniors continued to spend.

"We understand it is a unique and strong industry for Florida," Dana said.

Although Florida's senior population grew by more than 1 million during the 1990s, the rate of increase slowed slightly, the study said, suggesting that people are increasingly looking elsewhere when facing retirement.

The study suggests Florida is losing potential new residents to locations such as the north Georgia mountains and the Carolinas, which are aggressively going after what they see as a profitable, clean industry.

"Other states are starting to go out of their way to attract retirees, and they are starting to pull people away from Florida who otherwise would have gone there," Warren noted.

Dana said economic development officials aren't overly concerned with the relatively new competition for retirees from other states and don't have any specific plans to counter it. She said private developers and businesses are already doing a good job touting Florida's benefits and drawing people here.

"The way we do battle for the retirement community is to make sure we have safe communities, safe and clean streets and the kind of health care people feel confident in," Dana said.

As America's baby boomers start reaching retirement age, the number of 50-plus residents in Florida is expected to grow to 7. 7 million by 2015, when they will account for 42 percent of the state population, the study said.

Thomas, Warren and Associates is a Phoenix-based consulting firm specializing in demographic and economic-impact studies.