MARCH 19, 2009

Secretary Land posts quarterly report online for Sunshine Week

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reaffirmed her commitment to government accountability and transparency by posting online the most detailed expenditure report available from any state department. Land's action highlights the importance of Sunshine Week, a national effort that promotes open government and freedom of information.

"Taxpayers expect their money to be used wisely," Land said. "As a fiscal conservative, I couldn't agree more. With our easily accessible spending reports, people can see for themselves how we're using their hard-earned dollars to serve Michigan residents. I'm proud to offer our latest report during Sunshine Week so people can have a clear view of the department's spending."

For the first time, the report includes salary information broken out by job classification and number of people in each classification.  The 57-page document details the first quarter of the 2009 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2008.  The department began releasing detailed expenditure information in April 2008.

Prepared from financial database information available to all agencies, the report includes comprehensive details such as payments for individual leases, contracts, employee travel, utilities and grants to local governments. All the information is typically available to taxpayers only through Freedom of Information Act requests or by wading through complex budget documentation and legislative fiscal agency reports.

Land credited the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland for encouraging state government leaders to go beyond the basic requirements of right-to-know laws through its Show Michigan the Money initiative.

Visit www.Michigan.gov/sos to view the data or other information about Department of State services.

Related Link
> MDOS "Transparency in Spending" Reports