Kane County increases transparency with new financial website

Kane County's latest effort at government transparency is a new method for local residents to track exactly how and where their tax dollars are spent.

Kane County Auditor Terry Hunt unveiled the software and began training staff members and the public on how to use www.kanecountyil.opengov.com this week. The website allows for a spreadsheet, but with greater visualizations, view of the county's annual report, fiscal year results, quarterly report history and an online checkbook.

Hunt particularly touted the online checkbook as a method for taxpayers to track expenses such as government contracts. A quick search of the site Friday morning showed, for example, that the law firm that does contractual legal work for the county board - Kinnally, Flaherty, Krentz & Loran PC - has received $25,755 in payments so far this fiscal year.

The software, however, does not allow the public to search or sort salary information for county employees or elected officials. For instance, searching the name of Kane County Treasurer David Rickert will only show reimbursements in 2015 totaling $369.66 for printing, training, mileage and conferences. It does not show his $99,999.90 annual salary.

That information is still available to taxpayers in a .pdf by visiting the website of the county's finance department.

Still, Hunt told county board members in unveiling the software that the website is much more "user friendly" than anything the county has had before.

"This will make it easier for anyone to see just how taxpayer money is spent," Hunt said.

Hunt hosted the first public training session Friday morning. More training will be available in the future.

The cost for the county to license the software will be $50,000 spread over the next four years.