Peraica’s Transparency Resolution Attracting Attention
The Chicago Tribune’s Hal Dardick posted in the paper’s Clout Street blog about Tony Peraica’s resolution to post the county’s check register online:
Posting the register would allow residents “to see where their money is being spent and perhaps wasted,” Peraica said. He also said the data could be compared to campaign disclosure reports, to see which vendors receiving county checks also are making political donations….“We are not changing the law,” (Adam) Andrzejewski (director of FortheGoodofIllinois) said, noting that county payments are considered public information subject to the state Freedom of Information Act. “We are simply changing county policy.”
Chicago’s News Bench also posted on the resolution:
Tony Peraica just can’t help himself. He’s a Cook County Commissioner, but don’t hold that against him. He’s one of the good guys, fighting to reform one of the most corrupt and inefficient county governments in the nation. Today, Peraica introduced a resolution to put the Cook County check register online.
And here’s OpenIllinois.org’s take:
Kudos to Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica for introducing a resolution to post the Cook County check register online. During a press conference this morning, Commissioner Peraica spoke about the need to restore confidence and trust in government. Commissioner Peraica cited the growing need for creating accountability and transparency.
And this from the Illinois Policy Institute:
Taxpayers deserve to know how government spends their money, and transparency gives them that chance. It serves as an x-ray machine and allows people to look into the details of the budget books and understand where their tax dollars go – and to whom. [...] It’s simple, good policy – and we’re seeing dramatic, public support all over the state of Illinois.
And you can read Sunshine Review Blog’s take here.
All in all…not a bad day’s work for Commissioner Peraica.
Peraica Introduces Resolution to Put County Check Register Online
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica today introduced a resolution to put the Cook County check register online. Peraica’s resolution follows efforts by several Illinois municipal organizations – including neighboring DuPage County – to undertake similar efforts.
Peraica said:
Cook County’s favorite son, President Barack Obama, has called for a new era of open, transparent government … Let us heed that call by putting the Cook County check register online to make us one of the most transparent governments in the country.
Click here to view the full text of the resolution. Here’s an excerpt:
It is incumbent upon this honorable body to lead by example and demonstrate a commitment to accountability and transparency … be it resolved that the President and Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby direct the Cook County Comptroller to establish a monthly check register that can be accessed via the Cook County Web Page.
Adam Andrzejewski, director of ForTheGoodOfIllinois:
Today, the Cook County Board has the opportunity to be financially transparent with their spending. With an operating budget of $3 billion, Cook County can become the largest unit of Illinois government to show taxpayers exactly where public money is being spent. I commend Commissioner Tony Peraica who worked hard and diligently to create this good government resolution. Each fiscal year, Cook County writes nearly $1 billion in checks. Peraica’s resolution would post all these checks on the county website at absolutely no cost to county taxpayers. That’s good government!
John Tillman, chairman and CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, added:
Cook County government has been on a relentless mission to continually raise taxes. People have been abandoning Cook County for decades due to its high taxes and reputation for corruption and bloated payrolls. Transparency is a first step toward reform. It is the x-ray machine that will allow the citizens of Cook County to see every check written, for how much and to whom. More is needed, but this is an excellent first step.
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