Colorado Spending Transparency

Yesterday transparency advocates (a.k.a. taxpayers) gathered on the East steps of the Capitol to show their support for SB09-57 Public School Financial Transparency Act.  Senator Ted Harvey, prime sponsor of the legislation to require school district to post all revenues and expenditures online, hosted a press conference to explain the importance of transparency why the Colorado Senate should restore the bill’s original language.  The Senate Education Committee hijacked the bill reducing it to what amounts to resolution status.

Remember, this bill wasn’t supposed to make it out of committee.  Senator Mike Kopp (co-sponsor) complimented supporters when he said, “you should put on a clinic about how to testify in committee.” COST is encouraged by the number of people willing to take time off from work and continue to show their support for transparency.

Now, it seems that everyone is talking about transparency. Colleen Slevin from the Associated Press writes, “Activists are calling on state lawmakers to require school districts to post their spending reports online, citing a nearly $10,000 Starbucks tab in Jefferson County as an example of questionable spending they’ve turned up.”  Everyone loves the Starbucks spending.  Be sure to check out Natalie Menten’s website if you haven’t done so already.

Jefferson County School District did respond, “….spokeswoman Lynn Setzer said the district usually buys catering-style containers of coffee for staff meetings but said employees can’t use the district’s credit card to buy their own individual drinks.”  If taxpayers enjoyed full transparency that includes all expenditures, revenues and contracts, then there wouldn’t be any confusion.  COST is looking forward to Jefferson County School District’s support of SB09-57.  We’re sure that Jeffco wants taxpayers to have all spending information!

Fox 31 also did a story about school district spending transparency and even cited our friend Natalie Menten. (AP spoke with Natalie too)

Best part of all this attention, our motto — ok we borrowed it from Texas — “if you can’t defend it; don’t spend it!” made it into print.