SAN DIEGO–The City of San Diego announced advancements to its budget-focused web app which will provide San Diegans unprecedented access to the City’s financial information.
Budget.sandiego.gov now includes the City’s actual revenue and expenditure data, allowing users to see spending trends and create charts that compare actual results to budgeted amounts in over 30 different City departments.
“For years we’ve been telling San Diegans how the City invests their money, and now we’re showing them,” Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer said. “When you see how the City’s budget works, it’s easier for you to get involved to make sure we’re funding the projects that make a difference in your neighborhoods.”
The budget visualization tool was launched in April 2015 so that San Diegans could see more details on how the City budgets tax dollars. Early this year, seven years’ worth of budgets were made available, including this year’s, which allowed interested community members to compare funding allocations over time in a user-friendly format. As of today, actual budget expenditures from Fiscal Year 2011 through Fiscal Year 2016, which concluded June 30, are also posted.
Since its launch, thousands of individuals have accessed budget.sandiego.gov, some visiting multiple times. With the addition of actual expenditure data, the City anticipates that number to grow.
“San Diegans should know how the City is spending money, and we’re providing that in a digestible way through budget.sandiego.gov,” said Almis Udrys, Director of the City’s Performance and Analytics Department. “By sharing information, we’re inviting community members to play a bigger role in their government.”
The White House last week recognized San Diego’s leadership on meaningful data utilization when it named the City a partner in smart cities technology guidelines.
