PODCAST: Station Fire Victim's Dad Speaks Out on Fire Safety Regs
GoLocalProv News Team
PODCAST: Station Fire Victim's Dad Speaks Out on Fire Safety Regs

The 15 Costliest Government Programs in RI
#15 Non-Highway Transport
Category: Transportation
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $4.87
National Rank: 4
#14 Community Development
Category: Environment and Housing
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $4.97
National Rank: 12
#13 Sewage & Solid Waste
Category: Environment and Housing
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $5.09
National Rank: 36
#12 Health & Hospitals
Category: Social Services
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $5.40
National Rank: 49
#11 Other Ed. & Libraries
Category: Education
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $6.00
National Rank: 12
#10 Fire
Category: Public Safety
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $6.50
National Rank: 2
#9 Highways
Category: Transportation
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $7.66
National Rank: 48
#8 Police
Category: Public Safety
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $7.87
National Rank: 13
#7 Utilities
Category: Utilities and Liquor Stores
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $9.25
National Rank: 40
Note: Utilities are not considered to be "direct general expenditures." Instead utilities are categorized as "other direct expenditures." The category is a U.S. Census Bureau term. Unlike some states, Rhode Island does not have state-run liquor stores.
#6 Gov't. Administration
Category: Administration and Debt Interest
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $11.05
National Rank: 16
#5 Interest on Debt
Category: Administration and Debt Interest
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $12.13
National Rank: 3
#4 Higher Education
Category: Education
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $13.59
National Rank: 45
#3 Pensions and Other
Category: Insurance Trust
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $39.62
National Rank: 4
Note: Other than pensions this area of spending includes unemployment security, disability insurance, and workers compensation. Together, these expenses are categorized U.S. Census Bureau as "insurance trust."
#2 Public Welfare
Category: Social Services
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $46.90
National Rank: 7
#1 Elementary and Sec. Ed
Category: Education
Cost Per $1,000 of Income: $48.59
National Rank: 15
