PARCA

News / Economy / State

Alabama to receive over $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds

Alabama is in line to receive more than $2.47 billion from the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act, according to estimates by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). The CARES Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27. A supplemental act passed Congress on April 23. The … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

May 4, 2020

Slight decline in number of Alabama graduates attending college, report shows

The number of Alabama high school graduates enrolling in college has slightly decreased over the last five years, according to a report published by a nonpartisan research group based at Samford University. The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) has a tradition of reporting college-going rates for Alabama and its local systems and schools. … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

April 9, 2020

The Alabama 2020 Legislative Session begins today

The Alabama Legislature returns to Montgomery today for the 2020 legislative session. Both Houses of the Legislature will meet this afternoon for organizational sessions at the Statehouse. Tonight, Governor Kay Ivey (R) will deliver the annual State of the State Address to a Joint Session of the Alabama Legislature at 6:30 p.m. in the Old … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 4, 2020

Ivey tells PARCA to vote yes on Amendment One

Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) addressed the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) at the annual Albert Brewer Legacy lunch at the Harbert Center in Birmingham. Albert Brewer (D) (1928-1917) was elevated to Governor in 1968 when Lurleen Wallace (D) died in office from cancer. Later in life, while on the faculty at … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 3, 2020

Alabama state and local governments collect less taxes than any other state

Alabama state and local governments collect less in taxes per resident than any other state in the U.S., according to the latest figures available from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2017, rising revenue in Alabama, tax cuts in other states, and a variety of other factors led to some narrowing of the gap between Alabama … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

December 23, 2019

2018 Alabama high school graduation rates released early

According to an early report, Alabama’s high school graduation rate for 2018 has increased. The State Department of Education had planned to the public release of the 2018 graduation rates in October but the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, a nonpartisan research group based at Samford University, released the 2017-18 high school graduation rates … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

September 25, 2019

New Census numbers show that Huntsville is on pace to overtake Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city within five years

The U.S. Census Bureau released new city population estimates for 2018 on Monday. Huntsville continues its momentum while Birmingham, Mobile and Montgomery continue to decline. If these trends continue going forward, Huntsville will pass Birmingham as Alabama’s largest city in the next decade. The new estimates cover the time period between July 1, 2017, and … Continued

Brandon Moseley

July 3, 2019

Several Alabama schools significantly improve ACT scores

The Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama published ACT results for Alabama’s graduating high school class of 2018, showing large improvement from several schools. Pike County School System, Montevallo High School, Opp High School and Homewood High School and System showed some of the largest improvement in average ACT scores among Alabama schools between 2015 … Continued

Gabby Dance

June 4, 2019

Ivey: First Class Pre-K highest quality program in nation for 13th years straight

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that the National Institute for Early Education Research has ranked Alabama First Class Pre-K as the nation’s highest quality state pre-kindergarten program for the 13th consecutive year. “For a child to reach their fullest potential later in life, they must first build a strong foundation. I’m proud that Alabama … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 18, 2019

As lawmakers consider new gas tax, Alabama remains last in per capita state, local tax collection

As state lawmakers prepare to consider a gas tax increase during the next legislative session, a new report from the Public Affairs Research Council shows Alabama’s state and local governments collect less in taxes per capita than any other state in the country. Alabama has been behind in tax collection since the early 1990s, according … Continued

Chip Brownlee

December 12, 2018