Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC)

February 2026 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council RIPEC’s analysis of the governor’s FY 2027 proposed budget, a study on rent control in Providence, and mixed signals for Rhode Island’s economy RIPEC on Public Policy Inside Insights What to Look for ...

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-...

R.I. economy saw ‘mixed performance’ at end of 2025: As employment rebounded, jobs dropped, briefing says - The Boston Globe The drop in in-state jobs was primarily in the trade, transportation and utilities sector and the professional and business services sector, according to a RIPEC report.

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...

Highlights on the Governor's FY 2027 Budget Proposal - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council RIPEC Brief Finds Governor’s FY 2027 Budget Hols State Spending in Check as Key Tax and Borrowing Decisions Await General Assembly On January 15, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Daniel J. McKee released h...

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...

Rhode Island Economic Indicators for Q3 2025 Signal Stability Amid Softening Growth - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council PROVIDENCE, RI – Reflecting resilience amid slower underlying growth, Rhode Island’s economic signals in the third quarter of 2025 were mixed, according to the Rhode Island Key Performance Indicators ...

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.

December 2025 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council RIPEC’s analysis of November revenue and caseload estimates, charter school outcomes, and warning signs from the Office of the Auditor General highlight this month’s agenda RIPEC on Public Policy Insi...

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...

RIPEC Analyzes November Revenue and Caseload Estimates - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council Despite Steady Revenue Growth and Drop in Medicaid Enrollment, Structural Deficit Still Looms Over Rhode Island Rhode Island’s Revenue and Caseload Estimating Conferences play a central role in the st...

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...

RIPEC Annual Meeting 2025 This is "RIPEC Annual Meeting 2025" by RIPEC on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

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

RIPEC - Guiding Policy Navigating Change _ RIPEC Annual Meeting - 1920x1080 - V6b This is "RIPEC - Guiding Policy Navigating Change _ RIPEC Annual Meeting - 1920x1080 - V6b" by Jeffery S Hamill on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos…

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-...

Hey, big spender: Smallest state spends the most on general government administration • Rhode Island Current A new report by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council shows how Rhode Island stacks up against other states on per-capita spending. The Ocean State outspends most of its peers on government admi...

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...

Rhode Island tops nation in government administration spending, report finds - The Boston Globe That’s the takeaway from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council’s latest analysis comparing every state’s revenues and expenditures.

R.I. tops nation in government administration spending,
@ripec1.bsky.social report finds -- Rhode Map by
@danmcgowan.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/20/m...

Coming up this Wednesday, 10/22: RIPEC's Michael DiBiase will join Neighbors Welcome! for a panel discussion featuring Marc J. Dunkelman and other voices from government, design, and policy to exchange ideas about restoring public trust and collective capacity.

Our new report, How Rhode Island Compares, reveals how our state and local government revenues and expenditures stack up against the US and New England.

Explore the full findings and check out our interactive 50-state rankings map: ripec.org/2025-how-ri-...

Join us Monday, Nov. 3 at our annual meeting for an insightful conversation on the local and regional economy, moderated by
@nancyklavin.bsky.social : eventcreate.com/e/ripec-tick...

#1: "The General Assembly...recently approved a $14.3 billion budget...In August, RIPEC called out how...general revenue spending climbed by almost 11 percent since fiscal year 2024, about five points higher than...revenue. 'Rhode Island continues to have a spending problem'...Michael DiBiase said."

RIPEC is proud to announce this year’s public service awardees. We are looking forward to honoring Maureen and Ron at our annual meeting. Join us: www.eventcreate.com/e/ripec-tick...

What to make of the economy?

"It's not going badly, but we're kind of running in place a bit right now," DiBiase said. "It's slowing down after a period of really significant growth."
www.providencejournal.com/story/news/l...

September 2025 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council RIPEC’s FY 2026 enacted budget report, new taxes and fees, and chronic absenteeism in K-12 highlight this month’s agenda RIPEC on Public Policy Inside Insights What to Look for in September

Catch up on our September newsletter ⬇️ featuring highlights on the FY26 enacted budget, new taxes and fees, chronic absenteeism in K–12, and more — including how to submit a nomination for the 49th Annual Public Service Award. Deadline: September 15!
ripec.org/newsletter/s...

Newsmakers 8/22/2025: RIPEC’s DiBiase; Caprio remembered A closer look at why state spending is going up so much; memories of the much-beloved late judge.

Over the past two years, RI’s state budget has grown nearly 2x the rate of inflation – an 11% increase in spending. Michael DiBiase discussed why that isn’t sustainable and where RI’s tax dollars are going with @tednesi.bsky.social on this week's @wpri12.bsky.social Newsmakers. bit.ly/47vbntp