Rhode Island’s Per Capita Spending on Fire Departments Is Highest in U.S.
A new study released on Monday by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council unveils that Rhode Island “spends substantially more on police and fire protection than most of the nation, while the amount communities spend on these essential services varies considerably across the state.”
“Affordability has become a critical issue for Rhode Islanders and the most direct way state and local governments can help with affordability is to hold the line on taxes and scrutinize spending,” said Michael DiBiase, President and CEO of RIPEC. “Rhode Island spends considerably more on police and fire protection than most of the country, particularly on fire protection. Yet, there is little evidence that the state has a greater need for these services. Rhode Island has among the five lowest crime rates in the nation, and while data on fire incidents are limited, there is no evidence that Rhode Island experiences high levels of fire activity relative to other states.”
RIPEC’s report—the fourth in a series of reports analyzing government spending—focuses on police and fire protection, which together account for about a quarter of all municipal spending…