For Immediate Release

"It's Your Money" allows residents to follow finances on line

Surprise, AZ (October 9, 2009) The Surprise commitment to transparency and openness is taking another step forward with the introduction of "It's Your Money," a Web site with up to date city expenditures, revenues and other financial information.

The Surprise City Council unanimously approved the site at its October 6 special meeting.  Residents can find monthly expenditure reports by department, regular updates on money flowing into various city funds, weekly disbursement reports and links to other data.

"In this introductory period we are presenting the information as we see it from our Finance Department," says City Manager Randy Oliver. "In coming weeks, we will refine the site so it is searchable. As it evolves you will see less scrolling and more linking.  But this is a good start and a way to demonstrate our commitment to giving residents access to government information."

The site includes links to how the city is using federal stimulus money and a monthly update on the status of capital improvement projects around Surprise.

City staff presented the site to the City Council as one of several steps being taken to improve accountability and transparency in city government.

The "It's Your Money" site is available at www.surpriseaz.com/itsyourmoney or visit www.surpriseaz.com and look for the "It's Your Money" logo.

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