Wednesday, April 22, 2015
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County last week announced that it was working to put its checkbook online, and now Youngstown officials say they’re planning to do the same for the city.
The financial information is expected to be online by the end of the year, said Mayor John A. McNally.
“We’re going to give people the ability to get into the numbers by providing access online,” he said. “It’s something we’re interested in, and we plan to have more serious discussions on it. It provides more transparency to government by making information more accessible.”
City officials recently met with OpenGov, an organization that worked with the Ohio Treasurer’s office to put OhioCheckbook.com online, McNally said. The website, launched Dec. 2, allows people to search and review more than $400 billion in checkbook-level state spending for the past seven years.
The city isn’t directly working with the state treasurer’s office, McNally said, but that could change.
Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel sent letters two weeks ago to 18,062 officials at 3,962 local government entities – primarily counties, cities, townships, villages, school districts, libraries – offering his office’s help in setting up their online financial information at no cost.
To date, there have been more than 158,000 searches on the state’s checkbook website, which puts all state spending information on the Internet.
Mahoning County announced last week it would join the initiative. Mandel praised county officials for being leaders in promoting transparency and accountability in government.
“Since our announcement two weeks ago, over 200 local governments throughout Ohio have expressed interest in OhioCheckbook.com so far,” said Chris Berry, state treasurer spokesman. “We’re hoping to have the first early adopters up and running by the end of June.”
Youngstown council President Charles Sammarone is backing the idea for the city.
“I always like checks and balances, and people being more accountable,” he said. “To me, it would make sense to have it. I’ve always pushed for more accountability.” Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th and chairwoman of the finance committee, said she also favors putting the city’s financial information online.
“It empowers citizens to see how tax dollars are being spent,” she said. “A lot of people talk about how much money we spend and why we spend it and where does it go. This way, everyone can see that.”