Residents Now Able To Search Government Expenditures

Montgomery County launched a website that will allow the public to search information on government expenditures of $25,000 or more beginning with Fiscal Year 2011, said county spokesman Neil Greenberger.

The legislation, sponsored by Councilman Robert Berliner (D-Dist.1), was modeled after similar federal legislation sponsored by then-Senator Obama. It was approved unanimously by the Council in February 2009.

Payments are searchable by payee name, payee zip code and the County department/office making the payment. It is anticipated that spending information will be updated on a quarterly basis. Confidential payments are excluded, Greenberger said.

"We must do everything we can to keep our government open and transparent to those who want to know where their tax dollars are spent," said Berliner. "This web site takes another major step toward meeting this goal. We want to be accountable to residents."

The Web site can be accessed from the County's Department of Finance home page by clicking on "Spending Disclosure" under Quick Links. The direct access URL is: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/spendingdisclosure/