On the Trail of Stimulus Spending

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Internet age demands that states and cities have easy-to-use, searchable databases that account for how tax dollars are spent. Yet, as the April 30 Fed Page article "Tracking How Stimulus Dollars Are Tracked" pointed out, this is not how information is currently reported. All too often, data that are to be "publicly accessible" are viewable in nothing more than incomprehensible spreadsheets posted on Web sites.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for how states and cities do business. It is crucial that the federal government foster a common system for tracking that allows for "apples to apples" comparisons of spending. But all systems to track economic recovery funding should meet the following four criteria:

-- Detail it: Publish each stage of the process for distributing funds. This will allow the public to see when funds were awarded, to whom, for what purpose and the progression of funding until a project has been completed.

-- Track it: Define performance measures so that the public can see whether a project is on time, on budget and delivering promised results.

-- Show it: Illustrate the costs and benefits of all projects in a searchable, easy-to-read format.

-- Update it: Refresh data regularly so that recent information is always available.

Once it is clear how funds are being spent, taxpayers, policymakers and government officials can vigorously debate what programs may need to be reevaluated.

POLLY TROTTENBERG

Executive Director

Building America's Future

Washington

ELLEN MILLER

Executive Director

The Sunlight Foundation

Washington