Expanded budget information for more New Jersey towns will soon be posted online. Gov. Chris Christie recently signed legislation that requires the Department of Community Affairs to immediately post the current budget—and the last three adopted budgets—of any municipality or county that does not have its own website.
Those with their own sites already were required to post their current budgets. But they now will also have to post their last three adopted budgets.
Proponents say putting more financial data online will increase governmental transparency and make it much easier to access public information.
Most of the state’s 566 towns and 21 counties have websites, but the quality of those sites and what material gets posted varies greatly. And for those in communities without websites, obtaining information can often be troublesome and time-consuming.
“If a municipality or county doesn’t have a website, a taxpayer seeking to inspect either the county or municipal budget would have to travel to the local library or a government facility,” said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, D-Turnersville, one of the bill’s primary sponsors in that chamber.
“That may be inconvenient or even impossible for some taxpayers, especially senior citizens, depriving them of an opportunity to examine the plans their property taxes support,” he said. Full story in AP.
Great. Now Lakewood will finally be forced to level with those that give over so much money. Where in the world does it all go to anyway?
A few questions –
On the opening page – there is a picture labeled “message from the mayor”. Whose picture is it? Click on the message – it states “Message from Mayor Langert” ?????
Where can I find the budget information? It’s not listed anywhere that I can find it, or is it a secret?
How many weeks, months, years, after the budget is adopted will it appear on the website? Note – the last “”Lakewood Spirit” Newsletter”
is dated “2007 Vol 1”. I guess no “News Letter” has been put out since then.
wont help since many of the waste is hidden in other township departments.
I can’t wait to see Lakewood’s budget. I’ll have two make some popcorn and enjoy the show. As an Abbott District I can’t wait to see some of line items and the ridiculous amounts of money spent on items. I’m sure if anything this will just produce more questions but in the long run finally shed some light on the rat holes that New Jersey taxpayers have been unknowingly funding for quite a few years.
I agree but to clarify, Lakewood is not an Abbott district. Because Lakewood as a whole is a wealthy town it does not qualify. But on the other hand it is now a Title 1 district, and yes that sure could use State monitoring because those funds like everything else are not being used to the Federal guidelines. With everyone blaming each other for all that doesn’t work in this town, this would be the only way to fix the issues that constantly plague this town.