Taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes, easily and transparently. Understanding government finances also shouldn’t require a public records request or a finance degree.
Whether you’re curious about county debt, payroll trends, property tax revenues, departmental budgets, or how public dollars are invested, the Sand Dollar Snapshot makes that information available with just a few clicks. My goal is simple: Make it easier for citizens to answer their own questions whenever they want, without having to navigate complicated financial reports.
As Lee County’s Comptroller, I want to shine a light on how local tax dollars are spent. That is why my team and I created the Sand Dollar Snapshot – an interactive website that allows users to view near real-time, multi-year financial data from the Clerk, Board of County Commissioners, and Port Authority.
Since launching the Sand Dollar Snapshot earlier this year, there have been thousands of visits to the website. The response we’ve gotten from the community on the Sand Dollar Snapshot is extremely positive. I’ve been told by many people that they are very thankful a site like this exists.
The Sand Dollar Snapshot builds on our award-winning annual financial report, The Sand Dollar, by making key financial information available year-round. One of the things I’m most proud of is that the Sand Dollar Snapshot was designed and built entirely by my internal IT and Comptroller teams. It reflects the innovative culture I’ve worked hard to create within the Clerk’s Office and our shared commitment to making government more transparent and accessible.
My team and I remain laser-focused on our mission to preserve, protect, and maintain the public records, the public funds, and the public trust. The Sand Dollar Snapshot isn’t the finish line. It’s another step toward fulfilling that mission because public trust isn’t earned through one project. It’s earned through consistently delivering better service.
If you haven’t had a chance yet to visit the site – I encourage you to do so. It can be found at www.leeclerk.org/SDS.
Kevin Karnes is Lee County’s Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Website puts Lee government finances at your fingertips | Opinion
Reporting by Kevin Karnes / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kevin Karnes | USA TODAY Network
