Skip to content

PARCA

News / State

Survey: 78 percent say Alabama spends too little on public education

A new public opinion survey from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama found that 79 percent of Alabama citizens think the state spends too little on public education. PARCA, in collaboration with Samford University, surveyed 421 Alabama citizens on a variety of policy issues from June 4 to July 18, 2018. Those surveyed have … Continued
September 13, 2018

Alabama voter priorities: Jobs and the economy rank high

Last year, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama surveyed Alabama voters to gauge their priorities heading into this year’s statewide elections. That report showed broad agreement among voters about key issues facing the state. First among the issues were Pre-K–12 education, health care and government ethics and corruption. Further down the list was jobs, … Continued
September 10, 2018

Report: Alabama is the eighth most violent state

According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) annual crime report, the number of violent crimes in Alabama has been increasing. Alabama reported 532.3 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2016, placing Alabama as the 8th highest state in the nation for violent crimes. The state ranks 14th in property crimes. Alabama’s property crime index … Continued
September 4, 2018

Sez you, Nikki Haley

While “experts” like the United States’ Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley say it “is patently ridiculous for the U.N. to examine poverty in America,” Alabamians know that what’s actually ridiculous is the hundreds of thousands of Alabamians who live in poverty. Haley’s comments came in reaction to United Nations Special Rapporteur Philip G. … Continued
July 10, 2018

Only 71 percent of Alabama high school seniors are college/career ready

A new report from Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama shows that there is still a sizable gap between Alabama’s graduation rate and the number of students who are considered college and career ready even though the gap has improved. The report looks at state educational statistics for last year’s graduating class of 2017. While … Continued
June 25, 2018

Gubernatorial candidates speak to PARCA Roundtable

Most of the candidates for Governor were present for the PARCA gubernatorial forum in Birmingham. Each of the six candidates were interviewed by a different member of the PARCA Roundtable. PARCA, the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, was founded by the late Gov. Albert Brewer to provide nonpartisan research into the problems facing Alabama. … Continued
May 17, 2018

Annual reminder: Alabama is last in state, local tax collection

Here’s an annual reminder for you as you decompress from filing your tax returns: Alabama’s state and local governments are collecting less in state and local taxes than any other state in the United States. Good right? Maybe. Maybe not. As Tax Day — and an extended deadline caused by web portal outages — pass, … Continued
April 19, 2018

Agency Says Budget Cuts Threat To Public Safety

By Bill Britt Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY —Projected budget cuts in the General Fund will not only pose a threat to public safety, but will also prevent prison reform efforts, according to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The latest budget projections show that Pardons and Paroles can expect an 18 percent reduction in … Continued
April 21, 2015

State Weighs Budget Options

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Political Reporter On Friday, February 13, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) shocked everyone who follows Alabama politics when he announced in a speech in Birmingham that he plans to spend the next four years of his second term raising taxes on the people of Alabama. Gov. Bentley said that the State … Continued
February 19, 2015