Tracking tax money

THE ISSUE

The Open Alabama Web site is online with details of how the state is spending your tax money.

Is a poor state such as Alabama really paying its secretary of the Senate $289,912 a year?

That is the kind of question taxpayers can answer if they turn on their computers, go to the Internet and visit openalabama.gov.

Considering Secretary of the Senate McDowell Lee has worked 46 years for the state and has been employed to age 84, some might argue he is worth the $24,159 a month the state is paying him. Others might balk at the thought that one man earns that much when schools and other services go lacking.

To his credit, however, Lee is the person who suggested the state create Open Alabama, the Web site that allows people to find out how much he makes plus answer many other questions about state spending.

Gov. Bob Riley signed an executive order in February to put the state's finances online. His office likens the Web site to a checkbook register that lets you see every check written by the state.

If the state approves a check to a local sheriff, you can search his name and it will pop up.

If the state pays a Colbert County circuit judge his regular monthly paycheck, you can find out how much he made.

Want to know which local businesses are getting state funds for their goods and services? Visit Open Alabama.

Much of the information found on this Web site isn't a surprise. For example, taxpayers may already know how much the state is paying a sheriff each month to feed prisoners or how much a judge makes each year.

But information sheds light, and light is a great way to encourage bureaucrats and politicians to act with integrity when it comes to state funds.

Our Montgomery reporter, M.J. Ellington, has already used Open Alabama to tell you how much the secretary of the Senate is making. We can think of many other ways for the newspaper to use the Web site in reporting how government spends your money.

But you don't have to wait on your newspaper. We encourage you to turn on your computer and go explore on your own.