In May, Hamilton County Commissioner Pat DeWine introduced an initiative he called the Government Accountability in Spending Program (G.A.S.P.).  This transparency initiative gives taxpayers the necessary tools to fight fraud, waste, and unnecessary spending by their county government.

Similar to the legislation AFP – Ohio is advocating for in the Ohio General Assembly, this initiative: 

• Establishes a single, easily accessible website that allows the public to search and aggregate information on the expenditure of all appropriated or non-appropriated funds by any county department or agency. 

• Ensures that information on any county payments, purchase orders, direct vouchers, electronic fund transfers, grants, leaseholds, contracts and subcontracts are made public.

• Provides to the public the names and principal locations of the recipients of county funds, the amount of funds expended, the type of transaction, the funding or expending agency, the budget program source and a descriptive purpose of the funding action or expenditure. 

AFP – Ohio is proud to congratulate Commissioner DeWine for working to get this initiative passed unanimously in June!  This is great news for Hamilton County and we hope other counties and the state take notice and work to pass their own transparency legislation.