Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 101670

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 101670

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-952-10

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: EST CHECK REGISTER OF COUNTY EXPENDITURES

Introduced: 6/25/2010

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 9/21/2010

Agenda Date: 9/21/2010

Agenda Item Number: 11A3

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO ESTABLISH A CHECK REGISTER OF COUNTY EXPENDITURES THAT CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE COUNTY WEBSITE; AND REQUIRING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO ENSURE THAT ALL DATA ADDED TO THE WEBSITE REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A CERTAIN TIME

Indexes:

NONE

Sponsors:	Bruno A. Barreiro, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Carlos A. Gimenez, Co-Sponsor
	Sally A. Heyman, Co-Sponsor
	Barbara J. Jordan, Co-Sponsor
	Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor
	Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	9/21/2010	11A3	Adopted				P

Board of County Commissioners	9/10/2010	11A2	Carried over		9/21/2010

Government Operations Committee	7/13/2010	2B	Forwarded to BCC with a favorable recommendation				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Geri Bonzon-Keenan read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Chairman Gimenez asked to be listed as a co-sponsor of this resolution. Commissioner Barreiro, prime sponsor of this resolution, noted he proposed having all county expenditures posted on the web for maximum transparency. He noted this resolution requires the Administration to report to the Board within 90 days with recommendations on how to accomplish this, and to implement the system within 180 days. Commissioner Seijas concurred with posting all government expenditures on the web for more transparency, but suggested an explanation of the expenditure be posted along with the check, as well. Commissioner Sosa commended Commissioner Barreiro for this proposal; and Commissioner Edmonson asked to be listed as a co-sponsor of this resolution. In response to Commissioner Martinez’ inquiry of whether this proposal also included posting employee’s paychecks, Ms. Bonzon-Keenan noted it included all checks. Commissioner Martinez noted although he supported more transparency in government, he could not support this resolution if employees’ salary checks were included because of potential issues concerning privacy rights. He pointed out that the original resolution proposed by Commissioner Souto failed on first reading because it included posting employees’ salaries. Commissioner Diaz noted his concerns were similar to Commissioner Martinez’ concerns, but he worked through them after discovering that employee salaries were public records available upon request. He noted he supported furthering government transparency and gaining back the publics’ trust and confidence. Chairman Gimenez spoke in support of this resolution. He noted employee salaries were public records with no privacy rights attached and were accessible to the public. He agreed that Commissioner Barreiro’s proposal was a huge step towards better transparency. He also noted that posting the invoice, requisition or paycheck stub should suffice as an explanation for the expenditure. Regarding Commissioner Diaz’ concerns with posting certain private information such as social security numbers on the web, Commissioner Barreiro noted the body of this resolution contained language that says all confidential information would be exempted from disclosure. Commissioner Seijas noted she believed the Administration should include posting an explanation of why some employees receive higher salaries than others so that the public could gain a better understanding of these expenditures. Hearing no further comments or questions, the Committee proceeded to vote on this resolution as presented.

County Attorney	6/25/2010		Assigned	Juliette Antoine		6/25/2010

County Attorney	6/25/2010		Referred	Government Operations Committee	7/13/2010

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO ESTABLISH A CHECK REGISTER OF COUNTY EXPENDITURES THAT CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE COUNTY WEBSITE; AND REQUIRING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO ENSURE THAT ALL DATA ADDED TO THE WEBSITE REMAINS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR A CERTAIN TIME

BODY
WHEREAS, trust in government is at an all time low and it is important to restore confidence and trust in government; and
WHEREAS, this Board embraces government in the sunshine and transparency in government spending; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a searchable database of government spending would further the goals of transparency and trust in government; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, the Florida State Legislature enacted legislation directing the Governor of the State of Florida to establish a website providing information relating to each appropriation in the General Appropriations Act and requiring governmental entities, including counties, to provide information as necessary relating to revenues received by such governmental entity from the State of Florida; and
WHEREAS, various local governments and schools boards around the country, including the Miami-Dade County School Board, have implemented an online check register system and the residents of Miami-Dade County would be well served by the implementation of such a system,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
Section 1. The matters contained in the foregoing recitals are incorporated in this Resolution by reference.
Section 2. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee is hereby directed to establish a monthly check register that can be accessed via the Miami-Dade County website. The check register shall contain the check number, vendor name, amount of the check, brief description of the expenditure, date, purchase order number and budget code for all expenditures and shall be searchable by date, check number, vendor name and check amount. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall collect all the necessary data from each department and post each month�s check registry online no more than thirty (30) days following the last calendar day of the month.
Section 3. Information that is considered confidential by state or federal law shall be exempted from disclosure.
Section 4. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall ensure that all data added to the website remains accessible to the public for a minimum of 10 years.
Section 5. The County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee shall develop the online check register and prepare a report to this Board providing recommendations for enhancement of the content and format of the website within 90 days from the effective date of this resolution and shall ensure that the online check register is fully operational no later than 180 days from the effective date of this resolution.