D.C.’s Recovery Act Spending Website Ranks Low in Survey

dcogcadmin | March 10, 2010

According to a survey released by Good Jobs First in January, the District of Columbia website established to make federal Recovery Act spending transparent is one of the worst in the country.  All fifty states and the District established such sites to track the more than $200 billion in federal stimulus funding that is flowing through state and local governments to communities, organizations and individuals.

According to a survey released by Good Jobs First in January, the District of Columbia website established to make federal Recovery Act spending transparent is one of the worst in the country.  All fifty states and the District established such sites to track the more than $200 billion in federal stimulus funding that is flowing through state and local governments to communities, organizations and individuals. The survey "looks at the availability of information on spending programs as well as specific grants and contracts, with emphasis on data relating to jobs and the geographic distribution of spending within states."  D.C.’s site scored 6 of a possible 100 points, putting it in 50th place out of 51.  Maryland’s site ranked first, with 87 points, and Virginia was tied for 21st with 49 points.  D.C.’s site can be found here.  The complete report is available here.  For more analysis of the stimulus funding and state and local efforts at transparency and accountability in tracking it, see the Implementation of the Recovery Act blog, hosted by the IBM Center for The Business of Government.