Transparency Groups Thank Port Authority For Publishing Budget Data in Open Format
Transparency Groups Thank Port Authority For Publishing Budget Data in Open Format
The Transparency Working Group thanks the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for publishing its 2016 Budget Book online where it can be downloaded in a machine readable format, allowing for much easier analysis by the public and elected officials. The Port Authority’s actions came in response to a December 4, 2014 letter from the Transparency Working Group and its member groups.
Late in 2015, the Port Authority published the twenty spreadsheets from its 2016 Budget Book in a machine readable format and says it will continue to do so going forward. To make this possible, the Port Authority staff changed how they assemble budget documents.
We hope the Port Authority will further improve its budget transparency and revise and update the operating budget on a regular basis, clearly display the funding sources for individual projects in the capital plan, and publish a four-year financial plan for each area of major activity or business line.
It is a global best practice for government agencies to publish all tabular data in an open, machine readable format, especially budget and spending data. In 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration published the state budget in a machine readable format at the Open Budget NY website.
Contact
John Kaehny, Co-Chair, NYC Transparency Working Group
Gene Russianoff, Co-Chair, NYC Transparency Working Group