Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

• RIPEC released a comprehensive report on chronic student absenteeism in Rhode Island’s K-12 schools, finding that the Ocean State has made the 5th  largest post-pandemic reduction in chronic absenteeism among reporting states nationwide, but that it still exceeds pre-pandemic levels, with 22.1% of students chronically absent last year. The report also found that progress has not been evenly shared across the state, even after adjusting for student demographics. This points to a persistent challenge: while the Attendance Matters RI campaign has provided effective tools to aid schools, the state lacks authority to ensure effective local implementation.
  • WPRI 12, “A tale of two cities: The unbalanced recovery from RI’s chronic absenteeism crisis”
  • Ocean State Media, “’We know what works.’ Advocates say state needs to step in to reduce absenteeism in Rhode Island”
  • What’sUp Newp, “ Newport County shows stark divide in student absenteeism”
  • RINews Today, “RIPEC Report: Has ‘Attendance Matters’ been Effective on School Absenteeism”

• RIPEC President & CEO Michael DiBiase spoke to the Rhode Island Current about the risks of taxing high earners. “Rhode Island does not have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem,” he said. “A tax on high earners would disadvantage small businesses and hurt Rhode Island’s ability to attract and retain business activity and investment.”

• RIPEC testified before the General Assembly in support of a statewide tax stabilization agreement to spur housing development, in support of a constitutional right to an adequate and meaningful education. and in opposition to a bill that would make property taxes less equitable by allowing revaluations to deviate from market values.

Inside Insights

• A WalletHub study released in February, indicates that Rhode Island has the 15th highest effective real estate tax rate in the U.S., leading to an average annual payment of $4,900 for a median-priced home. RIPEC’s October 2025 analysis comparing state and local taxing and spending found Rhode Island ranked 10^th highest in property tax revenues per capita and 7^th highest based on personal income in FY 2023.

• The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s February 2026 snapshot indicates that Rhode Island’s total nonfarm employment declined by 0.3% over the last 12 months, trailing both regional and national growth averages. While the unemployment rate remains steady at 4.3%, Rhode Islanders continue to face a significant cost-of-living squeeze from rising consumer prices across the New England region.

• The United Van Lines 49th Annual National Movers Study highlights Rhode Island as a moderately inbound state, while continuing to rank New Jersey and Massachusetts among the top outbound states nationally. The 2025 U-Haul Growth Index identifies Rhode Island as among the top outbound states (ranking 40th in 2025 and 38th in 2024). RIPEC’s 2025 policy brief on the risks of increased  income taxes on high earners found the state to be a net loser of income-tax-paying residents and highlighted a strong correlation between high tax burdens and net outmigration. [This entry reflects a correction from an entry included in last month’s newsletter]

What to Look for in March