Budget Rhode Map 2008
On January 10, 2008, the Poverty Institute hosted its first conference on the state budget, one of the most important public policy documents in Rhode Island.  More than 170 attendees heard from local and national experts who provided information on Rhode Island revenues, expenditures, and tax subsidies.    Below are the materials that were made available during the conference, including power point presentations.    

Presentations:
Rhode Island's Budget - Ellen Frank, Senior Economist, The Poverty Institute
Rhode Island's Fiscal Status - Russell Dannecker, Senate Fiscal Advisor, RI Senate
Rhode Island's Fiscal Situation in a National Context - Michael Mazerov, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Good Jobs, Sound Budgeting - Greg LeRoy, Executive Director, Good Jobs First

Related Materials:
Rhode Island Cannot Afford Recently Enacted Tax Cuts (Tax Facts #7) (January 2008)
This issue brief discusses why Rhode Island should repeal two recently enacted tax cuts:  the reduction of the capital gains tax and the alternative flat tax.  These two tax cuts will cause the state to lose more than $62 million in the coming fiscal year.  Given Rhode Island's severe budget crisis, the state cannot afford to continue these two policies.

14 States Face Total Budget Shortfall of at least $29 Billion in 2009 (McNichols, CBPP, 1.15.08)
Budget Cuts or Tax Increases at the State Level:  Which is preferential during an economic downturn (Johnson, CBPP, 1.8.08)
The State of State Disclosure (Good Jobs First, November 2007)
Accounting for Impact: Economic Development Spending in Kentucky (MACED, 2005)

Media Coverage:
Author calls tax breaks a raw deal for the state (Pawtucket Times 1.12.08)
According to Greg LeRoy, author of "The Great American Jobs Scam: Corporate Tax Dodging and the Myth of Job Creation", often times States are spending money (by offering tax breaks and incentives to lure corporations) when in fact the decision to do business in the area has already been made. 

Are corporate tax incentives a waste?  Experts say they might not pay off (Newport Daily News, 1.11.08)
Read about a presentation given by Greg LeRoy, Director of Good Jobs First, who spoke at the Poverty Institute's budget conference last week.  LeRoy and Ellen Frank, Senior Economist at the Poverty Institute, argue that the state needs to do a much better job at measuring the outcomes and cost of tax breaks and incentives given for economic development purposes. 

  All documents are in downloadable PDF format