TITLE
Recommendation to, by motion of the City Council, request City Manager to provide information to the City Council regarding the cost and feasibility of utilizing the OpenGov Platform or equivalent to make the City's expenditures available online.
DISCUSSION
Two years ago, Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske requested that the City of Long Beach post its "checkbook" on line so that citizens could access information on expenditures. City management indicated that it could not do so because of technology limitations.
Since then, "OpenGov Platform" was developed as a tool to bring transparency to government with a concept called "Managed Transparency", an approach centered on intuitive, visual presentations. According to its website:
"OpenGov takes the government chart of accounts and shows how money flows through the city, not just how it is stored in complex databases. Complete with educational content that helps simplify and explain government finance, the OpenGov Platform helps citizens see the complete picture.
The OpenGov Platform enables government officials and citizens to access revenue and expenditure data by fund, department, or type of account. Working as a complement to the traditional budget, the software displays the full depth of the General Ledger, from government-wide totals down to the individual object level. OpenGov's innovative filter system makes navigating complex data easy for taxpayers.
Setting up the OpenGov Platform takes only hours. The upload process is designed to accept the same set of reports that you send to auditors, and the software itself never interfaces with your accounting system."
Open Gov is a Bay Area-based company that has contracted with 62 local governments around the country to make their finances available online.
FISCAL IMPACT
To be determined.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GERRIE SCHIPSKE
COUNCILWOMAN, FIFTH DISTRICT