By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Buchanan County has joined a statewide trend toward financial transparency, becoming the latest county to be included in the Missouri State Treasurer’s Local Government Checkbook.
Presiding County Commissioner Lee Sawyer says the move became official when State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick paid a visit to the Buchanan County Courthouse.
“There are 114 counties in the state and we were 14th on board. So, I think that’s pretty good,” Sawyer tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “It’s a good thing and it’s nice to have the state Treasurer come in to your community and recognize the fact that we’re one of the leaders when it comes to this kind of transparency.”
The Local Government Checkbook is an online data base outlining all the spending decisions of the county. It can be accessed through the Missouri State Treasurer’s Show-Me Checkbook website.
Sawyer says the name really discloses what you will find by going to the web page.
“It is what it is. So, you get to see what all of our transactions, whether it’s gravel that we purchased or services that we provide; all kinds of things,” according to Sawyer. “It’s a neat deal.”
Click here to access the Local Government Check through the Missouri State Treasurer’s webpage.