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CSU puts finances online

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WILBERFORCE — Central State University is one of the first public universities in Ohio to post its spending on OhioCheckbook.com

State Treasurer Josh Mandel made the announcement May 16 with officials from CSU and Bowling Green State University, which also joined OhioCheckbook.com

“Central State University is committed to transparency and we are pleased to be joining BGSU as the first two universities to place their spending on OhioCheckbook.com,” said Curtis Pettis, vice-president for administration and finance and CFO of Central State University. “We thank Treasurer Mandel for the chance to make our spending information easily accessible, searchable and user friendly.”

In December 2014, Mandel launched OhioCheckbook.com, which sets a new national standard for government transparency and for the first time in Ohio history puts all state spending information on the internet. OhioCheckbook.com recently earned Ohio the number one government transparency ranking in the country for the second year in a row.

Central State University’s online checkbook includes over 7,700 individual transactions that represent more than $17 million of total spending over fiscal year 2015. The university was just recently removed from fiscal watch by the state.

“I believe the taxpayers of Ohio have a right to know how their tax money is being spent, and I applaud these universities for partnering with my office to post the finances on OhioCheckbook.com,” Mandel said. “My vision is to create an army of citizen watchdogs who are empowered to hold public officials accountable.”

On April 7, 2015 Mandel sent a letter to 18,062 local government and school officials representing 3,962 local governments throughout the state calling on them to place their checkbook level data on OhioCheckbook.com and extending an invitation to partner with his office at no cost to local governments. These local governments include cities, counties, townships, schools, library districts and other special districts.

In May 2016, Miami University, Ohio University and Wright State University also formally agreed to partner with the Treasurer’s office to post their checkbook level expenditures online at OhioCheckbook.com.

Xenia Daily Gazette

Xenia Daily Gazette news report compiled by Scott Halasz.