Hingham State Rep. Praises New State Government Transparency Website

Massachusetts taxpayers now have a powerful tool for searching aspects of state spending as payroll and pension information.

A website recently launched by State Treasurer Steven Grossman and other state officials late last year shows pie charts of state spending based on data compiled from the Commonwealth’s 2011 finances.

According to Hingham State Rep Garrett Bradley, the website, www.mass.gov/opencheckbook represents over 5 million records of actual data.

“The use of technology has made it easier than ever for citizens to learn how their hard-earned tax dollars are being used, and it helps legislators and other officials identify what we can do to make state government work more efficiently and effectively,” Bradley said in a written statement.

Bradley’s office said the new State Government transparency website includes records of all state agencies, the judiciary courts and departments, the Legislature, independent boards agencies, boards, commissions and others. 

It does not include protected data such as child support, lottery winnings, debt service, or retirement health care. It also does not include quasi-public agencies, cities and towns and spending from tuition and fees collected by the University of Massachusetts, state universities and community colleges.