Olszewski Unveils Open Budget Platform

New Platform Brings Unprecedented Transparency to the County Budget

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today unveiled a new open budget platform where residents can view detailed information about the County’s budget, bringing a new level of transparency to how the County spends taxpayer dollars.

“An open, transparent government is an accountable government. We can better serve the residents of Baltimore County by ensuring they have access to information about where our money comes from and where it goes,” Olszewski said. “The open budget platform provides an unprecedented level of transparency to Baltimore County’s budget process.”

Residents can visit the Baltimore County Open Budget platform and explore the County budget or search for specific programs and services. The platform features information on revenue and expenditures, including both operating and capital expenses.

The current open budget platform represents a first phase. Later this year, in addition to the County’s current approved budget, the platform will feature previous years’ budgets. It will also have the ability to track actual expenditures in addition to appropriated funds.

The open budget platform is part of Olszewski’s ongoing commitment to a more transparent and accountable government for Baltimore County. An open data portal will be made available later this year, and the Fiscal Year 2020 budget includes funding for a performance management system.

In addition, earlier this year the County Executive proposed and the County Council approved the creation of an Office of Ethics and Accountability. The Fiscal Year 2020 budget includes funds for this office, which will be charged with evaluating and investigating government operations in order to promote efficiency and prevent fraud, waste and abuse.