Government Technology

Cook County, Ill., Puts Local Government Checkbook Online


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February 16, 2010 By

From fraud and bribery to blurred ethical lines in government circles, Illinois has a political history smeared with corruption. It's a system that historically has been known more for trying to keep secrets than pushing for transparency.

But amid the cries from the public and the call from President Barack Obama, a Chicago native, for governments to be more open, local leaders have launched initiatives for citizens to see where exactly government money goes.

The latest effort comes from Cook County, Ill., which put its check register online at the county's Web site, www.cookcounty.gov, a move that will not only allow the public to track local tax dollars, but could create a wave of similar transparency measures across the state.

"It's ironic that Cook County, which has probably been the most criticized unit of local government for corruption, is among the first to take a major transparency step," said Andy Shaw, executive director of the Better Government Association. "This should be a model for other branches of local government."

The resolution was introduced in 2009 by Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, who has been a key proponent in the push for open government in the nation's second most populous county. This initiative bolsters other local measures that give the public online access to data such as meeting minutes, budget information and employment applications.


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