GOV. RITTER ISSUES TRANSPARENCY IN STATE GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE ORDER

Gov. Bill Ritter today launched Colorado state government’s Transparency Online Project through an executive order that will open up access to the state’s spending and revenue records.

State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, Representative Don Marostica, Attorney General John Suthers, Secretary of State Bernie Buescher, House Speaker Terrance Carroll and Senate President Peter Groff joined the Governor by signing agreements to participate in the Transparency Online Project (TOP).

“This executive order expands our strong commitment to a transparent, accountable and open government for Colorado citizens,” Gov. Ritter said. “The TOP system will ensure that citizens have timely, free and meaningful access to the state’s financial information.”

Gov. Ritter’s order directs the Office of Information & Technology and the Office of the State Controller to establish the TOP system. TOP is a free, searchable, web-based system providing easy access to information about the state’s revenues and expenditures. While providing adequate protection for privacy, safety, and security concerns, the new system will allow taxpayers to see where their money is going and how it’s being spent.

“Since I came into office, my focus has been making the state’s finances open and accessible,” Treasurer Kennedy said. “The use of public money should always be public – it belongs to the taxpayers and they should be able to see where it goes and how it is used.”

"Transparency will allow all the citizens of Colorado to see how the government spends their tax dollars, including government contracts and day-to-day expenditures," Rep. Marostica said.

"Transparency is more than a good idea -- it’s good government," Attorney General Suthers said. "Public scrutiny is the best check on government."

“I fully support the efforts of this order to improve the transparency of Colorado’s state finances,” Secretary of State Buescher said. “Every citizen will now have the ability to see all expenditures in the Office of the Secretary of State. I have instructed my department to provide this additional level of reporting, which will promote efficiency throughout the agency.”

The executive order requires that the TOP expenditure information be available by Sept. 1 and revenue information by Jan.1, 2010.