A Step Towards Greater Government Transparency in the Peach State

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel today launched her "Transparency in Government Initiative," which allows taxpayers to view the following information:

• The Georgia Secretary of State’s Fiscal Year 2009 budget;
• Secretary Handel’s campaign and personal finance disclosures;
• The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office Ethics Policy.

The tab for the budget information also provides monthly expenditure information which will be updated going forward and explanations on expenditure categories.

In posting this information online, Secretary of State Handel is joining numerous state constitutional officers who have taken it upon themselves to provide taxpayers with a better idea on how their tax dollars are being spent.

Legislation to create a website for the State of Georgia's expenditure information was passed earlier this year.

While the level of detail provided by the "Transparency in Government Initiative" should be increased and search functions be added, this initiative is an important step in the direction towards more accountable government, and we applaud the secretary for taking the initiative.