PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council on Monday released a report how the Ocean State compares to the United States and New England on state and local revenues and expenditures.
The report, titled “How Rhode Island Compares”, uses the 2018 fiscal year data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the most-recent data available. RIPEC said the report compares Rhode Island’s revenues and spending to the nation and region on a per capita basis and per $1,000 of personal income. The full report can be seen here.
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Rhode Island, according to the report, spends 13.1% more than the U.S. on a per capita basis on K-12 education, but underspends on higher education by 29.9%.
The report shows that Rhode Island spends $2,409 per capita and $44.16 per $1,000 of personal income on K-12 education. Comparatively, the U.S. spends $2,112 per capita and $38.52 per $1,000 of personal income, the report states. Only Vermont spends more on K-12 education in New England than Rhode Island on a per $1,000 of personal income basis, the report states. On a per capita basis, Rhode Island spent the fourth highest in New England, $2,409, on elementary and secondary education expenses.
RIPEC said the data raises concerns on the comparative overspending on K-12 given that student proficiency test scores are “on par with or below the nation overall,” with particularly poor outcomes for students in urban schools. That, RIPEC said, raises a “serious question” as to the state’s return on its investment.
RIPEC also raised red flags about the state’s comparative underinvestment in higher education due to economic development and growth being “tied closely with education levels.” The report also found it “troubling” that the states expenditures on higher education grew more slowly than spending on K-12 education from fiscal year 2013 through fiscal year 2018.
In the report, Rhode Island spends $688 per capita on higher education, which is less than Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts. U.S. per capita spending on higher education was $930. The report said that Rhode Island spends $12.61 per $1,000 of personal income on higher education, compared with $16.97 per $1,000 spending by the U.S. and second highest in New England, behind only Vermont.
James Bessette is the PBN special projects editor, and also covers the nonprofit and education sectors. You may reach him at Bessette@PBN.com. You may also follow him on Twitter at @James_Bessette.
