New Jersey Earns “C+” in Annual Report on Transparency of Government Spending

NJPIRG Law and Policy Center

New Jersey got a “C+” when it comes to openness about government spending, according to Following the Money 2011: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data, the second annual report of its kind by the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG).  Included with the report is aninteractive online tool that allows users to view what New Jersey is doing best and worst compared to other states’ transparency practices.

“The good news is that since last year’sFollowing the Moneyreport, New Jersey’s government has become more transparent about where the money goes,” said Jennifer Kim, NJPIRG Advocate, “But New Jersey still has a long way to go.”

The leading states with the most open spending are: Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon.New Jersey has created a transparency sitehttp://www.yourmoney.nj.gov/ and thereport ranks New Jersey as “emerging,“ but still not a leader due to serious deficiencies.

“The Comptroller estimates that the expenditures and debt of New Jersey’s 587 local agencies exceeds $5 billion. We simply cannot allow these organizations to spend taxpayer dollars without making them accountable to the public. There needs to be transparency,” said Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, who is co-sponsoring legislation with Senator Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, that would put New Jersey in better compliance with the best practices laid out in the report.

Since last year’sFollowing the Money report, there has been remarkable progress across the country with new states providing online access to government spending information and several states pioneering new tools to further expand citizens’ access.This year’s report found that 40 states now provide an online database of government expenditures with “checkbook-level” detail. The states with the most transparent spending also include data on economic development subsidies, expenditures granted through the tax code, and quasi-public agencies.

Six states have launched brand new transparency websites since last year’s report and many more, including New Jersey, have made improvements to existing websites.The best state transparency tools were highly searchable, engaged citizens, and included detailed information about government contracts, tax expenditures, tax subsidies and economic development incentives.

States that have created or improved their online transparency have typically done so with little upfront cost.In fact, states with top-flight transparency websites actually save money for taxpayers, while also restoring public confidence in government, and preventing misspending and pay-to-play contracts.

“As the Internet becomes more vital in the public’s involvement in and knowledge of their government, New Jersey has a chance to be on the right side of this important issue,” said Senator Beck.

“Having one of the best transparency websites in the nation is important because it would shine a light on New Jersey’s government spending,” said Kim. “Given the current severity of our budget problems, New Jerseyans need to be able to follow the money.”New Jersey got a “C+” when it comes to openness about government spending, according to Following the Money 2011: How the States Rank on Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data, the second annual report of its kind by the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG).  Included with the report is aninteractive online tool that allows users to view what New Jersey is doing best and worst compared to other states’ transparency practices.

“The good news is that since last year’sFollowing the Moneyreport, New Jersey’s government has become more transparent about where the money goes,” said Jennifer Kim, NJPIRG Advocate, “But New Jersey still has a long way to go.”

The leading states with the most open spending are: Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, Arizona, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, and Oregon.New Jersey has created a transparency site http://www.yourmoney.nj.gov/ and thereport ranks New Jersey as “emerging,“ but still not a leader due to serious deficiencies.

“The Comptroller estimates that the expenditures and debt of New Jersey’s 587 local agencies exceeds $5 billion. We simply cannot allow these organizations to spend taxpayer dollars without making them accountable to the public. There needs to be transparency,” said Senator Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, who is co-sponsoring legislation with Senator Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, that would put New Jersey in better compliance with the best practices laid out in the report.

Since last year’s Following the Money report, there has been remarkable progress across the country with new states providing online access to government spending information and several states pioneering new tools to further expand citizens’ access.This year’s report found that 40 states now provide an online database of government expenditures with “checkbook-level” detail. The states with the most transparent spending also include data on economic development subsidies, expenditures granted through the tax code, and quasi-public agencies.

Six states have launched brand new transparency websites since last year’s report and many more, including New Jersey, have made improvements to existing websites.The best state transparency tools were highly searchable, engaged citizens, and included detailed information about government contracts, tax expenditures, tax subsidies and economic development incentives.

States that have created or improved their online transparency have typically done so with little upfront cost.In fact, states with top-flight transparency websites actually save money for taxpayers, while also restoring public confidence in government, and preventing misspending and pay-to-play contracts.

“As the Internet becomes more vital in the public’s involvement in and knowledge of their government, New Jersey has a chance to be on the right side of this important issue,” said Senator Beck.

“Having one of the best transparency websites in the nation is important because it would shine a light on New Jersey’s government spending,” said Kim. “Given the current severity of our budget problems, New Jerseyans need to be able to follow the money.”