Rhode Island public school staffing grew 7.2% since 2015–16—even as enrollment fell 4.3%. Rhode Island also employs more staff per student than the U.S. average (1 staff member for every 6.4 students vs. 7.4 nationally). More in our new report: ripec.org/ri-k12-syste...

Just released: RI’s relatively high K–12 spending has not yielded correspondingly high student outcomes. Our new report compares RI to other states, explores why spending varies widely across districts, identifies opportunities to improve outcomes. More: ripec.org/ri-k12-syste...

More cities and towns are blowing past R.I.’s 4 percent tax levy cap, report warns. Seven of R.I.’s 39 municipalities exceeded the state-mandated cap when the state already has the 10th highest property tax rate, @ripec1.bsky.social reports. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/15/m...

Rhode Island property taxes are rising again, and faster than they have in years. Watch our key takeaways below 🎥 www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOyA...

New: commentary in the Rhode Island Current from RIPEC's Michael DiBiase and Jeffery S Hamill: Rhode Island’s housing policy needs fundamental changes to produce real returns on investment rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/06/05/r...

Our June Newsletter is here. Our latest brief on the risks of raising taxes on high earners, the high costs and low returns of Rhode Island’s housing strategy, weakening economic indicators, and more. ⬇️ ripec.org/newsletter/j...

Given the scale of Rhode Island’s housing investments and continued housing shortage, RIPEC recommends improving production efficiency and expanding middle-income and market-rate housing to increase supply and affordability statewide. Our analysis here: ripec.org/rhode-island...

“This is an inefficient and unsustainable path that requires a strategic shift to ensure a real return for taxpayers and an increase in housing production,” DiBiase said.

RI has significantly increased its investments in housing, but our new analysis finds that policies that drive up development costs and subsidy levels are contributing to high per-unit costs and low levels of housing production. Find the full report here: ripec.org/rhode-island...

Rhode Island’s labor market weakened in Q1 2026: 📉 Employment declined for the 3rd straight quarter 📈 Unemployment reached its highest level since 2021 📊 Labor force participation continued to fall Our latest KPI Briefing with Bryant University: ripec.org/q1-2026-kpi/

Just released: Rhode Island Labor Market Continues to Soften Despite Strong Consumer Demand Check out our KPI Quarterly Briefing for the first quarter of 2026, released in partnership with Bryant University: ripec.org/q1-2026-kpi/

Taxpayers earning $200K+ make up just 7% of RI filers, but generate 55% of state income tax revenue. That means even modest outmigration among high earners has outsized impact on state revenues and economic activity. Our new analysis examines the risks: bit.ly/4tvIdB

As states cut income taxes to attract residents and investment, RI is considering a major tax increase. RIPEC’s latest analysis examines the proposed millionaire’s tax and its potential economic impacts. Read more: ripec.org/rhode-island... www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhw0...

Rhode Island ranks 23rd in the U.S. for personal income per capita, but when the cost of goods, services, and state, federal, and local taxes are taken into account, it falls to 36th. More in our new Economic Prosperity Scorecard: ripec.org/rhode-island...

For every measure except median household income, Rhode Island’s rank among states has fallen since 2014. RIPEC's Economic Prosperity Scorecard highlights these changes, including Rhode Island's drop to 35th for both GDP and labor force productivity. ripec.org/rhode-island...

How does Rhode Island's economy compare? RIPEC’s Economic Prosperity Scorecard and interactive 50-state map lets you explore rankings, trends, and key economic indicators over time. Dive into the data and see where the Ocean State stands: ripec.org/rhode-island...

RIPEC’s February report on chronic absenteeism was discussed at RIDE's Chronic Absenteeism Working Group. The report found Attendance Matters RI helped drive one of the nation’s sharpest post-pandemic declines—but rates remain high and uneven across districts.

RIPEC's Michael DiBiase presented to state legislators this week on the proposed Millionaire’s Tax. Our analysis highlights the risk of pushing business investment out of state, and exacerbating Rhode Island’s already weak competitive standing. Watch it here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11957

Today is 401 Gives! If you support fiscally responsible government, competitive tax policies, and economic opportunity for all Rhode Islanders, please consider donating to RIPEC at bit.ly/4swfPPU. ⚓

"Rhode Island’s incomplete recovery from this crisis reveals two important truths about our education system. First, meaningful improvement is possible when the state applies focus. Second, without stronger statewide authority, some children will not benefit from that progress."

RIPEC on the broader, sobering lesson from RI’s uneven recovery from the absenteeism crisis: “If Rhode Island cannot require best practices in all public schools … how can it meaningfully effectuate the kind of change necessary to raise student outcomes?” www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/27/m...

Key points on the governor's proposal to impose an 8.99% tax rate on income over $1.0M ▼

Our testimony to House Education in opposition to a retroactive charter public school moratorium ⬇️ Charters are a bright spot in Rhode Island’s K–12 system. CREDO found that RI charter students showed the strongest results relative to their district peers among the 29 states studied.

Our March newsletter is out The risks of a tax hike on higher earners, our analysis of chronic student absenteeism, an update on legislative advocacy, and more⬇️ Sign up to our mailing list on our website to get future editions in your inbox ripec.org/newsletter/m...

Our testimony to House Finance on the governor’s budget proposal to raise taxes on income over $1M.⬇️ This proposal carries significant and long-term risk to state revenues and the economic opportunities of all Rhode Islanders.

Our new report on chronic absenteeism in RI found CFSD & PPSD are outperforming demographic-based predictions, cutting rates by 20+ points since 2022. What's driving progress? • Systemwide focus • Clear authority & accountability • Strong data use • Family communication

Rhode Island has made meaningful progress reducing chronic absenteeism, but too many students are still missing too much school. In our new report, we outline four recommendations to build on recent gains and address persistent gaps across districts: ripec.org/2026-chronic...

Rhode Island has reduced chronic student absenteeism from 34% to 22%—the 5th sharpest reduction nationally. Our new report breaks down what Rhode Island is doing right, and why chronic absenteeism remains too high: ripec.org/2026-chronic...

New: Rhode Island has made real progress reducing chronic absenteeism since the pandemic, but progress has been uneven. Some districts have improved dramatically. Others still face persistently high chronic absenteeism rates. Our analysis: ripec.org/2026-chronic...

RIPEC’s February newsletter is out, featuring analysis of the Governor’s FY27 proposed budget, research on rent control, and updates on RI’s economy. 📬 Sign up on our website to get the next issue in your inbox. ripec.org/newsletter/f...

Released yesterday: our Q4 KPI with Edi Tebaldi and Bryant University finds Rhode Island's economy at a critical transition point. Read more: ripec.org/2025-q4-kpi-...

By @chrisgavin.bsky.social -- RI economy saw ‘mixed performance’ at end of 2025, @ripec1.bsky.social and Bryant University briefing says www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/03/m...

Just released: Our Q4 KPI Briefing with Bryant University shows mixed signals for RI's economy, with a rebounding number of employed residents and a decline in unemployment, as in-state job counts and sales tax receipts edged lower. Find it here: ripec.org/wp-content/u...

Federal funding is projected to increase 7.8% in the Governor's proposed FY 2027 budget over FY 2026 enacted levels, despite recent federal policy changes affecting Medicaid and SNAP. More in our new policy brief ⬇️ ripec.org/fy2027_budge...

Just released: RIPEC’s brief on the Governor’s FY 2027 budget finds relatively restrained spending growth after recent surges, while relying on a proposed tax increase on high-earning individuals and businesses. Read the analysis: ripec.org/fy2027_budge...

As a new session of the General Assembly begins, we’re looking at the state of our economy and budget. In Q3, unemployment fell for the first time in 2+ years, but was higher than New England and U.S. More residents were working even as RI-based jobs fell.

In a new @providencejournal.bsky.social op-ed, Michael DiBiase and Laurie White write that RI doesn’t need more tax hikes—it needs smarter spending. Raising taxes on top earners and businesses doesn’t address the real issue: rising government costs and inefficient spending. bit.ly/4soKUFx

New: RIPEC and Bryant have released the Q3 KPI Economic Briefing, issued later than usual due to federal data delays during the shutdown: ripec.org/2025-q3-kpi-... The data show easing unemployment and modest gains in resident employment—signs of stability amid slower growth.

Our December newsletter is out now, featuring RIPEC’s latest revenue and caseload analysis, new findings on charter school outcomes, and warnings from the Auditor General on municipal fiscal reporting. ⬇️Read the latest issue. ripec.org/newsletter/d...

NEW: The doom-and-gloom about next year's RI state budget may be overdone @ripec1.bsky.social is out with a study laying out tens of millions in additional dollars Gov can use next month to balance FY27 One reason? Trump's Medicaid cuts save the state money, too www.wpri.com/news/politic...

What to know about RI’s budget outlook: 💰 FY26 surplus of about $38M ⬇️But the state still faces a substantial deficit for FY27 Learn more in our latest briefing: ripec.org/2025-nov-rec...

What to know about Rhode Island’s budget outlook: despite steady revenue growth and a drop in Medicaid enrollment, a structural deficit still looms. Dive into our key takeaways: ripec.org/2025-nov-rec...

New: Our analysis of the November Revenue & Caseload Estimates shows that, despite steady revenue growth and a drop in Medicaid enrollment, a substantial structural deficit still looms over Rhode Island. These estimates will shape the governor’s budget proposal in January. ripec.org/2025-nov-rec...

RIPEC is hiring a Public Policy Analyst! Join our small but mighty team and dive into meaningful public policy research. Application details are below. ripec.org/wp-content/u...

Snapshots from our annual meeting last Monday. Thank you to everyone who joined! 📸 vimeo.com/1135370756?f...

For 90+ years, RIPEC has been Rhode Island’s independent voice for responsible, data-driven government. Watch our new video on how we’re guiding policy & navigating change for a stronger state. vimeo.com/1133561342?f...

We’re just five days away from RIPEC’s Annual Meeting! Join us on Monday, November 3, to celebrate another year of advancing fiscally responsible government and expanding economic opportunity. There’s still time to register! Find tickets here: www.eventcreate.com/e/ripec-tick...

ICYMI: How does Rhode Island measure up? Our new report finds the Ocean State is among the top 10 nationwide for state & local spending in several categories, including government administration (5th). Explore the findings & our interactive 50-state map: ripec.org/2025-how-ri-...

We released How Rhode Island Compares yesterday—a look at how RI's revenues and expenditures measure up to other states in the region and across the U.S. Where RI stands across key categories ⬇️ Explore the full report and interactive 50-state map: ripec.org/2025-how-ri-...

The Ocean State spent the 14th most per capita on its correctional facilities and operations of any state nationwide in fiscal 2023, despite having the 3rd lowest number of incarcerated people, per new @ripec1.bsky.social analysis rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/10/20/h...