I have been browsing around state websites today to identify some shining examples of government transparency. One of the best is Oklahoma’s OpenBooks site, which details state spending in more ways than you can rope a cow. (Okay, I have no idea about cow roping, but I do know they have a Grade-A transparency website.)

The site details state appropriations, spending restrictions, details about the education lottery and rainy day fund, and even information on the Oklahoma budget process.

The only controversial portion seems to be the “Where does the state’s money come from?” section. It includes this chart: (click to enlarge)

One might argue that you could decode the chart categories by saying…
- “taxes and interest” = taxes
- “license/permit/tuition/fees” = taxes
- “federal grants” = redistributed taxes
- “assets held for others” = unclaimed property

Therefore, I think the page would be much more honest if there was a tagline to the chart that stated “OK government is 100% Taxpayer Funded.”

That issue aside, OpenBooks is a great example of how transparent government should be.

Homework: Ask your elected officials to match Oklahoma’s lust for spending disclosure. (If you’re from Oklahoma, see if you can get that tagline added for me.)

Category: sunshine