With current technology enabling quick transfer of spreadsheets,
reports, charts, graphs, and presentations to easily downloaded PDF
files, there’s no reason for any government agency not to post
their budget data online, where anyone can easily access it.
Making this most important information about our elected
officials
– how they’re spending taxpayer dollars – easily accessible is a
no brainer.
With current technology enabling quick transfer of spreadsheets, reports, charts, graphs, and presentations to easily downloaded PDF files, there’s no reason for any government agency not to post their budget data online, where anyone can easily access it.
Making this most important information about our elected officials – how they’re spending taxpayer dollars – easily accessible is a no brainer.
Unless elected officials and top administrators have something to hide, they really have no reason to make residents drive to City Hall or other administrative offices to take a peek at the balance sheets.
That’s why we want the following local agencies to post their budgets on the Internet:
The City of Hollister – $17.2 million annual budget
San Benito County – $73.3 million annual budget (projected)
Gavilan Community College – $26.2 annual budget (projected)
San Benito County’s various school districts
California Highway Patrol – $1.2 billion annual budget (projected)
The San Benito County Water District –$8.7 million in annual revenue
Kudos to those agencies, including the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, California Department of Forestry, the State of California, and the United States federal government, who do provide fiscal facts that citizens can easily access on the Internet.
An informed citizenry is the best check on out-of-control government. Taking a close look at how government officials are spending the dollars that taxpayers entrust to them is the best defense against mismanagement, waste and fraud.
For those agencies who haven’t posted their budgets, contact its elected officials to demand that they let the electronic sun shine on their budgets by posting them on the Internet.
Every one of these agencies has budgets in the millions of dollars. The technology to create PDF files and post them on the Internet is inexpensive and easy to use.
After all, as New Hampshire Governor John Lynch said, “To restore and keep the public’s confidence in the integrity of their government, … government and its officials must be open, honest and transparent.”
Posting budgets on the Internet is an easy, inexpensive and important step toward that open, honest, and transparent government we deserve.
To comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to [email protected].
