Open Illinois.org

I was a little bit surprised to see the News-Gazette headline, “Champaigne County Web site called second most open in the state,” came in on my feeds this morning. Then I remembered that being the second most open county in this state isn’t saying a whole lot.

Counties have been conspicuously absent from our list of “Who’s Posting?” in Illinois. Now, if there are counties that are posting their comprehensive monthly expenditures, itemized, including exactly to whom check were written, then please let us know and we will add them to our list!

I have not seen or heard of any yet. Champaigne County and DuPage County (#1 most open county in Illinois according to Sunshine Review) have the opportunity here to really lead in the area of comprehensive government transparency…and they should! Taxpayers have the right to see how their money is being spent.

If you go now to the Champaigne Co. website, you can find on their “detailed expenditures” such things as payments for professional services, or commodities. Comprehensive spending transparency is decribed on our “What is Transparency” page, but I will reprint it here!

Practicing transparency entails listing all government expenditures online in an easily searchable database. Just as you can open your personal bank account online and look up your spending activity, the database would provide the details of every tax dollar spent. The site would provide a complete, itemized, and clear description of all expenditures, including but not limited to all contracts, vendors, and grants. All expenditures would have a detailed account of the payment’s purpose and who authorized the payment.

Champaigne Co.— follow through on your commitment to transparency! There’s no downside, and the benefits of fully open and accountable government are nearly endless!