PRESS RELEASE
Buchanan County Joins Treasurer Fitzpatrick’s Local Government Checkbook
St. Joseph, MO –Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick
today announced that Buchanan County has joined the Local Government Checkbook,
making their spending data available to Missourians. The Checkbook is part of
his ongoing commitment to ensuring a more efficient and transparent government
at all levels. Spending
data from 14 local governments, Buchanan County, Callaway County, Cape
Girardeau County, Carter County, Cass County, Clay County, Cole County,
Franklin County, Greene County, Jasper County, Newton County, St. Charles
County, the City of St. Louis, and Vernon County, can be searched, with additional
counties in progress. The Office will continue adding county expenditure data
as it becomes available. Visitors to the Checkbook can
examine expenditure data detailing funds, departments, vendors, payment
descriptions, and totals for the available government entities. “Good government requires trust
and trust is enhanced by transparency,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful
to county leaders like Auditor Horn and Presiding Commissioner Sawyer who are working
to find ways to increase transparency and build trust for their constituents. I
hope more county leaders will join in and participate in the local government
checkbook.” “I am pleased to add Buchanan
County to the Local Government Checkbook,” Tara Horn, Buchanan County Auditor, said.
“As Auditor, I appreciate the accountability that comes with transparency. I
hope this leads to a greater understanding of local government spending.” “Buchanan County citizens should
know how their tax dollars are being spent,” Lee Sawyer, Presiding
Commissioner, said. “I am grateful to the Treasurer for his leadership on this
and to Auditor Horn for supporting this valuable initiative.” In 2020, Treasurer Fitzpatrick
announced the
expansion of the Show-Me Checkbook to include local governments. He also
facilitated aggregating state
expenditures related to federal stimulus funding
in one portal on the Treasurer’s Office website for Missourians to search. He recently
expanded the portal to include information related to the American Rescue Plan.
The Show-Me Checkbook,
launched by the Treasurer’s Office in 2018, is one of the most comprehensive
state financial data portals in the country. The Local Government section of
the Show-Me Checkbook can be found here. ### Follow the Treasurer’s Office on Twitter,
Facebook, and Instagram @motreasurer.
