RI Gov. Releases Updated Job Figures Created or Retained by the American Recovery & Reinvest Act

Nov. 3, 2009 -- The Rhode Island Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery & Reinvestment (OERR) today issued updated job figures created or retained by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The revised job figures shifted down to 1489.49, as compared to 1,703.45 previously reported. The shift is attributed to a comprehensive verification and validation review by the OERR and the various federal agencies that oversee each program.

The 1512 reporting process is part of the Recovery Act that requires data to be collected and provided to the federal government every three months beginning in October 2009. Data required to be reported includes:

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* Money received and spent during specified reporting periods
* Award description
* Direct jobs created or retained (and converted to full-time equivalent positions)
* Vendor information
* Project status

Not all ARRA programs are subject to Section 1512 reporting requirements. Examples of programs that are not required to be reported include: Supplemental Security Income payments; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); unemployment insurance; child support incentives; foster care maintenance; adoption assistance; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Fund; and Medicaid (Enhanced FMAP).

The shift in job figures is a result of changes in the methodology originally used to calculate data. Below is a brief explanation of the specific changes.

* Change in the award amounts (Rhode Island College, Elderly Affairs, RIDE): These values adjusted based on a change in the total award value either increasing (RIC & RIDE) or decreasing (Elderly Affairs).
* Additional information collected (Human Services): This value adjusted based on additional job information received from sub-recipients.
* Change in methodology (RIDOT, DLT, Corrections): These values adjusted based on methodological changes.

DLT: The U.S. Department of Labor issued clarifying guidance after the reporting period began on denominators for FTE computations. The FTE computations were adjusted reducing the number FTEs in the Summer Youth Program.

RIDOT: The Federal Highway Administration issued clarifying guidance after the reporting began on denominators for FTE computations. The FTE computations were adjusted increasing the number of FTEs in the Highway Infrastructure Program.

Corrections: FTEs were originally calculated based on a 35-hour work week; however, the positions funded were all 40-hour positions.

Source: Rhode Island Governor