Maine Open Government

From Sunshine Review

Ray of Sunshine
Site of the Day Nominations Chosen sites
Portal

Maine Open Government is a transparency website launched in late September 2008. The site is sponsored by the Maine Heritage Policy Center. It features comprehensive informaton about all public employee payrolls, pension benefits and vendor contracts in the state of Maine.^[1]

For 2007, the payrolls disclosed on the website total more than $2.55 billion in compensation.

Contents 1 Information available on website 2 Reaction of Maine State Employees Association 3 External links 4 References

[edit] Information available on website

The [Maine Open Government website] includes complete payroll information for:

• 13,000 state employees.
• 650 judicial employees.
• 240 legislature employees.
• 3,500 Maine Community College System employees.
• 5,300 University of Maine System employees.
• 49,000 local K-12 education employees.
• 21,000 retirees receiving a State of Maine pension.

The website also lists more than $1 billion in State of Maine vendor payments in 2006 and 2007, and 2008.^[2]

[edit] Reaction of Maine State Employees Association

The Maine State Employees Association objected to the website, saying it goes too far.^[3]

[edit] External links

• Maine Open Government website

[edit] References

1. ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Web site tracks state spending", September 24, 2008
2. ↑ Maine Heritage Policy Center launches transparency website, September 24, 2008
3. ↑ MaineOpenGov.org lists salaries of state, school employees, September 24, 2008 (article now archived)