Posted by Media Release

Here in Hamilton County we have the second highest County property tax rates of all 88 Ohio Counties.  In this high-tax environment, taxpayers are increasingly concerned about the way that their hard earned tax dollars are spent, and voter confidence in the way government spends taxpayer funds has declined.  To counter these trends, I am proposing the creation of the Government Accountability in Spending Program “GASP” to allow taxpayers to easily access clear and concise information on how their tax dollars are being spent.  When implemented, Hamilton County will be among the first in the nation to voluntarily put a countywide program in place. 

In September of 2006 Congress passed and the President signed into law the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, co-sponsored by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK).  The act created a publicly searchable website for all federal contracts and grants.  This federal effort has spurred similar measures in nearly twenty States, including Ohio, as well as numerous local efforts. 

Support for these transparency initiatives has transcended traditional party lines, pulling together coalitions from all sides of the political spectrum.  The effort to increase transparency has even drawn the joint support of consumer advocate Ralph Nader and anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, who together in a 2007 statement noted, “We come from different policy and programmatic backgrounds, but here we arrive at the same conclusion:  Transparency is one of the core principles of representative democracy.”

Here in Hamilton County, GASP will:

* Established a single, easily accessible website that allows the public to search and aggregate information on the expenditure of all appropriated or non-appropriated funds by any County department or agency.

* Ensure that information on any County payments, purchase orders, direct vouchers, electronic fund transfers, grants, leaseholds, contracts, and subcontracts are made public.

* Provide to the public the name and principal location of the recipients of County funds, the amount of funds expended, the type of transaction, the funding or expending agency, the budget program source, and a descriptive purpose of the funding action or expenditure.

GASP will contribute to the more efficient operation of County government and improve accountability in the way government spends money.  The increased transparency and awareness created will raise voter confidence.  In the often repeated words of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “sunshine is the best disinfectant”.  Increasing taxpayer awareness will also help to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, and will likely result in a significant government cost savings that can be passed on to the taxpayer.  GASP will employ web technology to empower ordinary people to become citizen activists

In order to stay competitive, Hamilton County must embrace web technology as a way to hold government accountable and get things done.  By adopting this cutting edge “google government”, we can ensure that we are on the government technology forefront.  GASP will be a valuable tool in our efforts to curb spending and taxes, improve efficiency, and create a more open County government.

The right of the people to be informed about where their tax dollars are going is fundamental.  GASP will help to create and preserve the kind of well-informed electorate that is vital to a well-functioning government.  I strongly believe that this initiative will help to immensely improve Hamilton County government, and that the reforms it will generate will be a great benefit to Hamilton County taxpayers. 

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