JEFFERSON CITY –Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick Tuesday announced that Butler County is the 20th county to join the Local Government Checkbook and make its spending data available to Missourians.
The Checkbook is part of his ongoing commitment to ensuring a more efficient and transparent government at all levels.
Spending data from 20 local governments, Buchanan County, Butler County, Callaway County, Cape Girardeau County, Carter County, Cass County, Clay County, Cole County, Cooper County, Dallas County, Franklin County, Greene County, Hickory County, Jasper County, Lawrence County, Lincoln County, Newton County, St. Charles County, the City of St. Louis, and Vernon County, can be searched, with additional counties in progress. The Office will continue adding county expenditure data as it becomes available.
Visitors to the Checkbook can examine expenditure data detailing funds, departments, vendors, payment descriptions, and totals for the available government entities.
“I want Missourians to be able to trust that their government is working for them and that their tax dollars are being spent wisely—and increased transparency helps facilitate that trust,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “I am grateful to Butler County for choosing to participate and I look forward to increasing transparency, providing more accountability, and building trust in communities as the Show-Me Checkbook continues to grow.”
“We’re pleased to be a part of the Local Government Checkbook,” Tammy Marler, Butler County Treasurer, said. “The Local Government Checkbook is a great tool for Butler County residents to use to see how their tax dollars are being spent. This transparency helps hold us accountable.”
In 2020, Treasurer Fitzpatrick announced the expansion of the Show-Me Checkbook to include local governments. He also facilitated aggregating state expenditures related to federal stimulus funding in one portal on the Treasurer’s Office website for Missourians to search. This portal was expanded to include information related to the American Rescue Plan.
The Show-Me Checkbook is one of the most comprehensive state financial data portals in the country. The Local Government section of the Show-Me Checkbook can be found here.