We need tools to track spending

Several times per week publications have articles on infrastructure projects our government is working on and must have. Before we become too enamored with all these projects, we the people must have a way to track and measure expenditures. If anyone has attempted to navigate the state's financial reporting system, it is a quagmire of disjointed reports and accounts. The public blindly accepts there are billions in outstanding bills and pension liabilities.

The Lottery was supposed to fix our education funding dilemma. Where are the receipts from that and the expenditures reconciliation? The Secretary of State's financial system is always blamed for why we can't do online processing and scheduling of appointments. Now we need to know receipts and expenditures from marijuana sales.

We keep spending millions of dollars on government, yet where is a scorecard and means to track who is responsible?

Lastly, I mention our gas tax. What are the receipts and expenditures by entity? Where are the fees we are paying for license plates being recorded and associated expenditures?

If we want transparency in government, we must have the tools to track and analyze.

In business there is the adage that what you measure and track gets accomplished. The people of Illinois need the tools.

Alfred Ramirez

Port Barrington