Salem, Ore. – Oregon state government earns top marks when it comes opening the books on government spending, according to a recent report from USPIRG and the Frontier Group. (http://uspirgedfund.org/reports/usf/following-money-2016) Oregon joins Indiana, Ohio and Michigan as the only states to earn the maximum 100 points on the report’s transparency scorecard.
Commenting on the report’s release earlier this month, co-author Elizabeth Ridlington noted, “States’ online spending transparency efforts are paying off in better informed citizens and a more efficient government.” Adding, “Our research found that top-ranked states have been making steady improvements to their transparency websites over the years, giving citizens in most states unprecedented access to information on where their tax money goes.”
Online access to Oregon state government spending is available through the Oregon Transparency Website — managed by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. (www.Oregon.gov/transparency) Additionally, visitors to the site can search state-issued contracts, meeting notices, employee salaries, information on local government spending, among other things.
