CHARLESTON, W. Va.–State Auditor J.B. McCuskey is lauding additional steps toward making sure West Virginians can fully see how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
McCuskey’s focus is on WVCheckbook.gov, which tracks state spending, along with Project Mountaineer, which focuses on local spending at the county and municipal level.
“The entire idea of this project was to give the taxpayers of West Virginia the best access to how their tax dollars are being spent of any place in the United States so they can hold every single bureaucrat and every single elected official accountable for how their money is being spent,” McCuskey said on “580 Live” on WCHS Radio.
“What’s really been amazing is how beautifully our local governments have embraced this concept.”
He said the state publicly accounts for every single dollar that comes in and out at the WVCheckbook.gov site, while 40 counties and 50 cities, along with 55 county schoolboards, also participate.
“What’s really amazing is when you allow these local governments to use this technology, you find all kinds of other ways in which this makes sense,” McCuskey said. “And one of the things that happens is governments get to see how each other uses money — so the Clay County Commission can see how the Gilmer County Commission buys tires or paper or pens and say ‘Why are they getting such a good deal?’”
The auditor recalled telling the company’s leaders, “I want to be the best. I want our taxpayers to be able to use this technology better than anybody else.’ And we have built this partnership over six years.”