The state has a new transparency website that pulls together Indiana budget data, spending reports and other financial information that previously had been spread across multiple sites.
Democrats dismissed the site as a rehashing of old information, but state auditor Tim Berry, a Republican, called it an important one-stop portal.
"It is vital for government to be transparent and accountable, because it isn't the state's money. It is taxpayer money and Hoosiers deserve to have the best tools available to know how their dollars are being spent," Berry said in a statement.
Still, Democrats said the new website is lacking. Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson, D-Bloomington, said there still are huge holes in information the public deserves to see, such as where taxpayer money goes under job incentives through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
"There needs to be a change in culture," she said.
House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, agreed.
"It's nothing new as far as data," he said. "It doesn't give us any more information on the budget, which we need."
The website includes information about the current state budget as it passed the legislature in 2009. Bauer said taxpayers should be able to see updated numbers on exactly what cuts have been made since Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels ordered millions of dollars in reductions after the budget was approved by lawmakers.
Berry said the website will be updated with more information later and noted it includes a suggestion box so taxpayers can leave feedback about how to improve the site. The auditor's office said a side-by-side comparison of budgeted numbers and actual expenditures will be available in the second quarter of 2011.
Simpson said she looks forward to seeing that data, even though it won't be posted before lawmakers return to the Statehouse in January to create a new two-year state budget.
"Unfortunately it doesn't look like it will be available in time to inform decisions on the next state budget," Simpson said.
Republicans applauded the new website. Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, said Daniels and Statehouse Republicans have given taxpayers the "most transparent state government in history."
Both Republicans and Democrats previously have called for more transparency in state government.
Democrats are trying to make government transparency a campaign issue heading into the November election, which is especially important in the narrowly divided House. Democrats currently have a 52-48 majority in that chamber, while Republicans control the Senate 33-17.
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