The city’s budget has always been public, but now it’s also easily accessible, thanks to a new online budget tool unveiled Wednesday.
Anyone with access to a computer and the Internet can go to budget.sandiego.gov, drill down, filter by different categories, display in different ways and, ultimately, export to spreadsheets.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer‘s proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is online now, and data for previous years will be added later.
“Today, we are opening up the budget book and putting the information online so the public has a better understanding of how their tax dollars are being spent,” said Matt Awbrey, the mayor’s deputy chief of staff and chief of communications.
Almis Udrys, director of performance and analysis for the city, said the new online tool is an improvement not only for the public, but internally for city officials.
“It’s a lot more convention than a several-hundred-page book in three volumes,” he said.
A four-year-old startup, OpenGov in Redwood City, provides the cloud-based service. Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Miami also use it.
Asked if the city was concerned about a high volume of questions from citizens, Udrys said, “We certainly welcome feedback. That’s the point.”
