The State Controlling Board has approved $2.7 million for an online checkbook website that tracks public spending. The State Treasurer’s Office says the money will allow it to put the finances of local governments online. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.
Ohiocheckbook.com allows anyone to search for information about how state agencies spend money. You can also find information about salaries of state government employees. Treasurer Josh Mandel wants local communities to put that same information on the website too. And Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf says that’s why the office needs the additional money from the Controlling Board.
“Over 240 local governments have already accepted and committed to putting their checkbooks online and we are in conversations with 300 other local governments, an additional 300 local governments, to put their checkbooks online as well,” Metcalf says.
The Controlling Board approved the measure unanimously. The Public Interest Research Group, an organization that advocates for government transparency, gave the website a national award earlier this year.
