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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · 23h

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...

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · 1d

#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."

Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · 4d

www.oceanstatemedia.org/politics/tgi... RI Politics Weekend Column: Shekarchi on His Future, State Spending, RI’s Biz Climate & More; McKee Raising Viz; AG Races; Street Takeovers; Vax Advice; More

TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Oct. 10, 2025

Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi talks state spending and, yes, the governor’s race

www.oceanstatemedia.org

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · 5d

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...

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · 7d

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...

Two years after its peak, RI's labor market is stable. 'Concerning' signs are emerging

While the state's job market hit its peak in the summer of 2023, trends have been coming down quarter after quarter.

www.providencejournal.com

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Sep 5

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...

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

ripec.org

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 25

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

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.

bit.ly

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 22

RIPEC’s new report breaks down how RI is using one-time surplus funds (4% of general revenues) and new taxes & fees to cover rising costs in the FY26 budget. It also explores how program evaluation tools can guide the state’s response.

Find it here: ripec.org/2025-fy2026-...

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 21

[email protected] coverage of our new report on RI's FY26 budget ⬇️

Find the full report and executive summary here: ripec.org/2025-fy2026-...

Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · Aug 21

Michael DiBiase: “This rate of spending, which exceeds the projected growth of revenues and inflation, is not sustainable and raises questions as to whether expanded spending is delivering better value and outcomes for taxpayers and their families” thepublicsradio.org/politics/fis...

Fiscal watchdog raises concern about growth in Rhode Island state spending - TPR: The Public's Radio

State spending in Rhode Island continues to rise at an unsustainable rate amid slowing revenues and uncertainty about federal funding, a business-backed fiscal watchdog group warned in a report releas...

thepublicsradio.org

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 21

“The tax burden has been going up, and people are paying for these things," Michael DiBiase said. "It’s time to reflect on what we are getting for that money.” Learn more about how the state is spending money via @nancyklavin.bsky.social

Nancy Lavin @nancyklavin.bsky.social · Aug 20

. @ripec1.bsky.social is sounding the alarm over lack of transparency in how state administrators craft the budget, or monitor the results from multibillion-dollar spending. rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/08/20/i...

It's fiscal 2026. Do you know where your tax dollars are? Probably not. • Rhode Island Current

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council warns of rising state spending and failure to publicly track outcomes of that money in a report Wednesday. The state's fiscal 2026 budget featured a record $5.8...

rhodeislandcurrent.com

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 20

The executive summary and full report ⬇
ripec.org/2025-fy2026-...

RIPEC Analyzes FY 2026 Spending in State Budget - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

Austerity Deferred Despite Softening Revenues and Federal Uncertainty After a period of extraordinary growth in state revenues and expenditures, Rhode Island continues to expand spending at a relative...

ripec.org

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 20

“We’ve gone through a period of extraordinary growth in spending," MichaelPDiBiase told @wpri12.bsky.social. “And we’re continuing that spending growth, despite the fact that revenues have cooled off and we have uncertainty at the federal level.”

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 19

Submit a nomination for our 49th Annual Public Service Awards by September 15 and help us honor the dedication, integrity, and impact of Rhode Island’s public service standouts.

Details here: ripec.org/wp-content/u...

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 8

ripec.org/2025-q1-kpi-...

Q2 2025 KPI Briefing Shows Concerning Trends for Rhode Island Economy - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island’s economy showed concerning trends across several key indicators in the second quarter of 2025, according to the Rhode Island Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Quarterly B...

ripec.org

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 8

#1: Our Q2 KPI Briefing with Bryant University shows
shows unemployment in RI continued to tick up as labor force particiaption fell. "Michael DiBiase said the news itsn't all bad ... [but the] broader trend ... suggests that we are entering a period of increased uncertainty."

Ian Donnis @iandonnis.bsky.social · Aug 8

@ripec1.bsky.social's Michael DiBiase notes how RI is entering a period of economic uncertainty -- in the run-up to a statewide election year (#1) thepublicsradio.org/tgif/tgif-ia...

TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Aug. 8, 2025 - TPR: The Public's Radio

If the ‘Taylor Swift tax’ is getting you down, you can snap up a Wyoming ranch bigger than Rhode Island for a cool $79.5 million. Welcome back to my Friday column. You can follow me through the week o...

thepublicsradio.org

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 7

Diverging employment trends in RI’s Q2 2025 economy: non-farm employment remains near historic highs, but employed residents fell quarter-over-quarter & year-over-year.

More in our Q2 KPI Briefing w/ Bryant University: ripec.org/wp-content/u...

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Reposted by Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC)

Omar Mohammed @shurufu.bsky.social · Aug 6

For six consecutive quarters now, unemployment in Rhode Island has remained higher than the New England and national rates, reports @chrisgavin.bsky.social.

R.I. unemployment rises again as state’s economy shows ‘concerning trends,’ RIPEC briefing says - The Boston Globe

Two years ago, the Ocean State’s unemployment rate was 2.7 percent. Last quarter, it hit 4.9 percent, according to the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council.

www.bostonglobe.com

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Aug 6

The Q2 KPI Briefing from RIPEC and Bryant University shows mixed signals & growing concerns for RI’s economy:

Unemployment ↑ or flat for 8th quarter
Labor force participation ↓ for 4th quarter
Employed RIers ↓ 3.3K but RI-based jobs flat
Sales tax receipts ↑

Read more: ripec.org/2025-q1-kpi-...

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · Jul 9

Check out our June newsletter for the latest on RI’s FY26 enacted budget, trends in local K-12 education aid, major housing governance reforms, and more ripec.org/newsletter/j...

July 2025 Newsletter - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

Rhode Island’s FY 2026 enacted budget, trends in local K-12 education aid, and major housing governance reforms highlight this month’s agenda RIPEC on Public Policy Inside Insights What to Look for in...

ripec.org

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Reposted by Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC)

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · Jun 25

"The governor has a point," @ripec1.bsky.social CEO Michael DiBiase tells me

He notes RI spending has gone up roughly 11% over the last two years, or 2x inflation

"There's not a lot of austerity in this budget, despite the fact that state revenues are slowing down"

McKee won’t sign $14.3B RI budget bill, but will allow it to become law

Lawmakers added a long list of tax and fee increases to the $14.3 billion plan before sending it to the governor’s desk last week.

www.wpri.com

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · May 30

And find our policy brief on the proposal here ripec.org/2025-taxing-...

RIPEC Analysis Shows Income Tax Hike in RI Risks Negative Economic Consequences - Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) today released a policy brief analyzing proposed legislation that would sharply raise the state’s top income tax rate from 5.99% t...

ripec.org

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · May 30

Read RIPEC's written testimony here ripec.org/wp-content/u...

ripec.org

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · May 30

RIPEC President & CEO Michael DiBiase testified in opposition to a 50% tax hike on RI's top income tax rate last night in Senate Finance. The bill would "negatively affect RI's competitive position, which is already weak, and hurt our ability to attract and retain business activity and investments."

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · May 29

RIPEC's Housing Forum brought together public & private leaders to address RI’s housing challenges. From zoning reform to streamlining development, the focus was on real market- & government-driven solutions to drive needed housing production.

Reposted by Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC)

Rhode Island Senate @risenate.bsky.social · May 28

Today, Senate Housing & Municipal Government Committee Chairman Jacob Bissaillon (@jakebissaillon.bsky.social) took part in the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council's (@ripec1.bsky.social) 2025 Housing Forum.

Watch here: capitoltvri.cablecast.tv/show/11339?s...

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Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) @ripec1.bsky.social · May 19

RIPEC finds RI’s Housing Resources Commission (HRC) in need of major reform. Overlapping roles, conflicts of interest, and unclear leadership hurt housing progress. Read the policy brief here: ripec.org/2025-housing...