Report ranks states’ transparency

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Indiana ranked third in an annual government spending transparency survey with an “A+” rating.

Following the Money 2016: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data” is the sixth annual report of its kind by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

Indiana and other states in the top four received a perfect score of 100.

Officials from 43 states provided the researchers with feedback on their initial evaluation of state transparency websites. The leading states with the most comprehensive transparency websites are Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Oregon, and Connecticut.

Though the top four states all scored 100 points, their scores were different when calculated without extra credit points, allowing each to be assigned a different rank.

Based on an inventory of the content and ease-of-use of states’ transparency websites, the “Following the Money 2016” report assigns each state a grade of “A+” to “F.”

Several states have made substantive upgrades to their transparency sites or added new features that give the public unprecedented ability to monitor how their government allocates resources.

Indiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hamp­shire and Washington now prominently feature data on quasi-public entities with web pages dedicated solely to these agencies, boards, authorities and commissions.