4 more townships sign up for online checkbook

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Four Delaware County townships have launched their “online checkbooks” on OhioCheckbook.com, according to State Treasurer Josh Mandel.

They are Genoa, Delaware, Porter and Troy townships. They are the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh townships in Delaware County to post their spending on OhioCheckbook.com.

Mandel launched OhioCheckbook.com in December 2014. It promotes government transparency and provides spending information on the internet. OhioCheckbook.com recently earned Ohio the number one government transparency ranking in the country for a second year in a row.

A representative from the treasurer’s office was joined at Thursday’s announcement by Genoa Township Trustees Frank Dantonio, Karl Gebhardt and Rick Carfagna, Genoa Township Fiscal Officer Patrick Myers and Genoa Township Administrator Paul Wise.

Genoa Township’s online checkbook includes more than 16,000 individual transactions that represent more than $36 million of total spending over the past four years.

Delaware Township’s checkbook includes more than 2,000 transactions that represent more than $1.8 million of spending over the past four years.

Porter Township’s checkbook includes more than 500 transactions that represent more than $274,000 of spending in fiscal 2015.

Troy Township’s checkbook includes more than 1,700 transactions that represent more than $994,000 of spending over the past four years.

“I believe the people of Delaware County have a right to know how their tax money is being spent, and I applaud local leaders here for partnering with my office to post the finances on OhioCheckbook.com,” said Mandel. “By posting local government spending online, we are empowering taxpayers across Ohio to hold public officials accountable.”

“Genoa Township is very excited about the opportunity to offer our residents a new tool and ability to view the financial information of the township at OhioCheckbook.com,” said fiscal officer Patrick Myers. “The fiscal office and the board of trustees have always made information available upon request and also provide summary information in our newsletter and at all township trustee meetings. Taking the step to place our financials online is just one more way to make information readily available to our residents.”

“This was an extremely easy process,” said Delaware Township fiscal officer Barbara Thomas. “This information being made readily accessible to the public simplifies life and is just the right thing to do.”

“OhioCheckbook.com is a great service to the taxpayers of Ohio,” said Troy Township fiscal officer Sharon Malcom. “It allows users to review the government’s expenditures at a great level of detail or on an overview basis. The graphics and search capabilities are user-friendly for those with even basic computer skills. It is also a great management tool, at no additional cost, for the officials responsible for the finances of the township. With internet access, they can review the financial data anytime to review trends, drill down to specific expenditures, or just gain a better understanding of the finances of their entity.”

OhioCheckbook.com was launched on Dec. 2, 2014, marking the first time in state history that citizens could see every expenditure in state government.

At Thursday’s announcement were (from left to right) Eric Ochmanek, deputy chief of staff of the Ohio Treasurer’s Office; Rick Carfagna, Genoa Township trustee; Patrick Myers, Genoa Township fiscal officer; Karl Gebhardt, Genoa Township trustee; and Frank Dantonio, Genoa Township trustee.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/05/web1_2016-05-12-Delaware-County-local-governments-join-OhioCheckbook.com_.jpgAt Thursday’s announcement were (from left to right) Eric Ochmanek, deputy chief of staff of the Ohio Treasurer’s Office; Rick Carfagna, Genoa Township trustee; Patrick Myers, Genoa Township fiscal officer; Karl Gebhardt, Genoa Township trustee; and Frank Dantonio, Genoa Township trustee. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

Information for this story was provided by the State Treasurer’s Office.

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