DOT, governor unveil budget portals

PROVIDENCE – The State of Rhode Island yesterday launched two new budget-tracking Web sites, which will report expenditures by the governor’s office and the R.I. Department of Transportation.
“During these difficult economic times, it is imperative taxpayers know exactly how and where government is spending their money,” Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said in a statement.
“This transparency portal can play an important part in maintaining the public’s trust,” added Michael P. Lewis, state director of transportation. “DOT welcomes the review of its transportation expenditures.”
Spending by the governor’s office and the DOT will join that from other departments at www.ri.gov/opengovernment. (Or, go to the department home page – at www.gov.ri.gov or www.dot.ri.gov – and click on “Transparency Portal.”) The information will be displayed by expenditure classification, “in a detailed, user-friendly format,” and will be updated weekly, state officials said.
Like the portals launched last month by the R.I. Department of Administration and Office of the General Treasurer, the new pages were created by the Administration Department and RI.gov at no cost to taxpayers.
“The Web-site portal brings information to the public, online and in a timely manner,” Carcieri said. “I commend RI.gov and our Accounts and Control [divisions], for managing this process and [for] their commitment to bring transparency across all state agencies.”
“We continue to strive to improve transparency among state agencies,” said Gary S. Sasse, state director of administration. His department’s budget portal was launched on Feb. 16. (READ MORE)
The similar Treasury Online Checkbook was rolled out Feb. 9 by R.I. General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio, who yesterday added daily updates via Twitter for those looking to more-closely track revenue and expenditures of the R.I. General Fund. (READ MORE)
“We have received very positive feedback from the public … and will continue to work with other state agencies in the coming weeks to create additional transparency portals,” Sasse said.
News and information from the R.I. Governor’s Office are available at www.governor.ri.gov. Information from the R.I. Department of Transportation – including updates on the status of Rhode Island’s bridges and the DOT’s stimulus projects – is available at www.dot.ri.gov.