House adopts budget transparency reform

By a vote of 94-0 the House has adopted SB 6818 (Promoting transparency in state expenditures) sending the bill back over to the Senate for final approval. SB 6818 is based on WPC's recommendation for the state to follow the lead of the federal government and other states by adopting a searchable budget website.

The Senate previously adopted the bill by a vote of 48-0, but needs to act on it again due to changes made by the House as noted in the bill report:

In collaboration with the OFM, and using existing database structures currently shared, the LEAP Committee is to establish and make available to the public, a searchable state expenditure information website, rather than the OFM. The OFM must make its electronic database on personal services contracts public, and the LEAP state expenditure information website must contain a link to the OFM database. A provision was added requiring the LEAP Committee to prepare and post on the website a presentation on K-12 funding.

Among the supporters of this reform are the State Auditor and Attorney General.