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Fiscal Stress and Municipal Bankruptcy in Rhode Island
PROVIDENCE – On Monday, April 2, 2012, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) will release a Public Policy Issue Brief titled “Fiscal Stress and Municipal Bankruptcy: History and Implications for Rhode Island”. The brief examines the current fiscal climate in Rhode Island’s cities and towns, Chapter 9 bankruptcy code, the process the state has ...
Policymakers and Stakeholders Discuss RI Business Climate
On February 28, 2012, RIPEC held a forum on the state’s business climate, sponsored by Fidelity, focusing focus on the steps Rhode Island should take to improve the perception that the state is not a good place to start or grow a business. The three-hour forum included presentations from the following:John Simmons, Executive Director, Rhode ...
RIPEC and Fidelity to Host Forum on RI Business Climate
RIPEC will hold a forum, sponsored by Fidelity, on the state’s business climate. Key policymakers and stakeholders, from within Rhode Island and representing national organizations, will discuss how Rhode Island measures up on a number of metrics relating to the business climate, as well as steps the state can take to improve the perception that ...
Briefing for RI Fourth Quarter Shows State Economy Stalling
According to a briefing released today by Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), the CEI for the fourth quarter increased only 0.7 (annualized) – roughly the same increase seen in the third quarter and significantly lower than the 2.6 percent in the second quarter. In addition, projections show that the state’s ...
How Rhode Island Measures Up – A Review of the State’s Business Climate Rankings, 2011
On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) will release an updated version of “How Rhode Island Measures Up: A Review of the State’s Business Climate Rankings”. The report examines five business climate rankings – three from research organizations (The Tax Foundation, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, and the Beacon ...
RIPEC Releases Education Results Report
On Monday, December 15, 2011, RIPEC will release the 2011 edition of its report “Results: Education in Rhode Island”. This report examines, in one publication, student performance in conjunction with a number of factors that have an impact on education in the Ocean State. The importance of a quality education and the size of the investment ...
How Rhode Island Expenditures Compare – 2011 Edition
Today, December 1, 2011, RIPEC released its annual report: How Rhode Island Expenditures Compare, which provides details on state and local government expenditures in FY 1999 and FY 2009, the latest year for which national data are available. This year’s report also includes an analysis of the changes between FY 2008 and FY 2009. The publication ...
RIPEC to Host Forum on Pensions at Fidelity, October 21, 2011
RIPEC will hold a forum on pensions, sponsored by Fidelity, which will focus on the challenges facing the state’s pension system and efforts at reform. Key policymakers and stakeholders will put the issue in context and discuss steps the state should take to ensure long-term sustainability and equity in the pension system. See the full ...
RIPEC Releases Analysis on Pension Issues and Key Reform Principles
Today, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) released an issue brief on the state of pensions and pension reform measures being considered. The report comes as legislators are preparing to vote on a potential reform package this week, and it includes a primer on key pension concepts, a summary of changes to pension plans ...
How Rhode Island Revenues Compare – 2011 Edition
Today RIPEC released its annual report: How Rhode Island Compares, which provides details on state and local government revenue sources for fiscal year 2009, the latest year for which national data are available. The publication compares Rhode Island’s fiscal system with those of the other 49 states and the United States average using data released ...
RIPEC Releases Study on Public and Private Sector Compensation in RI
Today, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council released a report comparing compensation in Rhode Island for a number of occupations between the public and private sectors, and across New England and the United States at large. The report uses data from the Current Population Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to examine both the ...
State’s Growth Slows in Q3 According to RI Economic Indicator
The Rhode Island Current Economic Indicator (CEI) shows that the pace of the economic recovery slowed significantly in the third quarter of 2011, creating a dark cloud looming over future growth. According to a briefing released today by Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure council, the CEI increased 0.9 percent (annualized rate). This ...
Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education to Keynote RIPEC Annual Dinner November 2, 2011
As Rhode Island continues to implement far-reaching education reforms, and as the debate around the national reform agenda continues, Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, will visit Rhode Island to deliver the keynote address at the 68th RIPEC Annual Meeting. Secretary Duncan, who has also served as the chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, will ...
Q2 Indicator Shows RI Economic Expansion
Despite a significant slowdown in the U.S. economy in the first two quarters of 2011, Rhode Island sustained its economic recovery and expanded faster than the national economy. Moreover, the Rhode Island Leading Economic Indicator projects the economy will expand 2.2 percent (annualized rate) over the next two quarters.
RIPEC Urges No Changes to Property Tax Cap
Noting that the state’s property tax cap – commonly known as S-3050 – has achieved a measure of success in controlling the rate of growth in the state’s property tax, RIPEC today urged the General Assembly not to act on any bills that would alter the legislation. The current legislation already provides municipalities with significant ...
RIPEC Cautions Against Combined Reporting, Recommends Study Period
Citing the fact that Rhode Island – and the state’s tax policy – has long been viewed negatively in national rankings of business climate studies, RIPEC today urged the General Assembly not to enact Gov. Chafee’s “Combined Reporting” proposal as part of the FY 2012 state budget. “There is simply too much uncertainty about Combined ...
RIPEC Outlines a FY 2012 Budget Approach
The FY 2012 budget provides an opportunity for the state to refocus its investments, realign its priorities and focus on long-term investments. The past three years have seen historic revenue declines that put significant pressure on the state’s budget. However, the state’s structural budget deficit – expenditure growth that exceeds revenue growth – has been ...
Retirement Benefit Reform Needed to Maintain Local Fiscal Sustainability
Today, June 7, 2011 the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) released a report on municipal retirement benefit obligations. In addition to providing a summary of the status of pension and other post-employment benefits (OPEB) throughout the state, the report provides an overview of the proposed Municipal Accountability, Sustainability and Transparency (MAST) Fund and how ...