Know an outstanding public servant? Help RIPEC recognize the people working to make Rhode Island a better place to live, work, and do business. Nominate someone for the 50th Annual Public Service Awards by September 4. Details: ripec.org/wp-content/u...

Rhode Island's unemployment rate fell in Q2 2026, but this improvement was driven by the decline in labor force participation rather than labor market strength. More in our KPI Briefing with Bryant University: ripec.org/rhode-island...

Commentary by @ripec1.bsky.social's Michael DiBiase and Justine Oliva -- R.I. invests heavily in education, but now must focus on improving results www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/23/m...

Rhode Island invests heavily in education. Now it must focus on results. - The Boston Globe

A Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council analysis found that higher spending often did not translate into better student outcomes, the organization’s leaders say.

bostonglobe.com

RIPEC was pleased to welcome Helena Foulkes for an engaging gubernatorial forum with our members. Thank you to our members for their thoughtful questions and continued engagement in the issues shaping Rhode Island’s path forward.

RIPEC’s focused on key policy issues shaping Rhode Island’s future, including the state’s investment in K-12 education, property tax developments, and implications of the state’s charter school moratorium. Our July newsletter ⬇ ripec.org/newsletter/j...

July 2026 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

RIPEC’s focused on key policy issues shaping Rhode Island’s future, including the state’s investment in K-12 education, property tax developments, and implications of the state’s new charter school mo...

ripec.org

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...

More cities and towns are blowing past R.I.’s 4 percent tax levy cap, report warns - The Boston Globe

Seven of R.I.’s 39 municipalities exceeded the state-mandated cap when the state already has the 10th highest property tax rate, RIPEC reports.

bostonglobe.com

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...

Property Taxes in Rhode Island

YouTube video by Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

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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...

Rhode Island’s housing policy needs fundamental changes to produce real returns on investment • Rhode Island Current

Despite major housing investments, Rhode Island is producing too few affordable units at too high a cost. Policymakers must rethink the approach.

rhodeislandcurrent.com

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...

June 2026 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

RIPEC’s brief on the risks of a tax hike on high earners, the high costs and low returns of Rhode Island’s housing strategy, and weakening economic indicators highlight this month’s agenda RIPEC on Pu...

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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.

Edward Fitzpatrick@fitzprov.bsky.social · 3mo ago

RI's ‘enormous’ housing investments yielding ‘no meaningful impact’ for most residents, @ripec1.bsky.social report finds. Michael DiBiase says RI has authorized $644m but uses “overly complex strategy w/ policy incentives that fail to maximize housing production.” www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/28/m...

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...

Why the Millionaire's Tax Won't Work for Rhode Island

YouTube video by Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

youtube.com

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."

Edward Fitzpatrick@fitzprov.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Commentary by Michael DiBiase and Justine Oliva of @ripec1.bsky.social -- We know what works to reduce chronic absenteeism in R.I. So why isn’t every school doing it? www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/27/m...

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...

We know what works to reduce chronic absenteeism in R.I. So why isn’t every school doing it? - The Boston Globe

To help all students succeed, the state must assume greater, consistent authority over elementary and secondary education, write advocates from the R.I. Public Expenditure Council.

bostonglobe.com

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...

March 2026 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

The risks of a tax hike on higher earners, RIPEC’s analysis of chronic student absenteeism, and an update on RIPEC’s legislative advocacy RIPEC on Public Policy Inside Insights What to Look for in Mar...

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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.