Indiana Earns ‘A+’

Crouch says Indiana improved its score from 97 in 2015 to 100 in 2016.

State Auditor Suzanne Crouch says Indiana has earned a perfect score for financial transparency in 2016. The state is one of five to earn an A+ from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Indiana improved its score from 97 in 2015 to 100 in 2016. The auditor’s office says the state’s transparency portal "provides citizens with a robust toolbox and unprecedented access to interact with the state’s finances, including expenditures, revenue, contracts, salaries and assets."

The report, "Following the Money 2016: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data" focuses on public online access to financial information. Indiana joins Ohio, Michigan, Oregon and Connecticut in earning an A+ grade. California, Alaska and Idaho are at the bottom of the list, each receiving a grade of F.

In a release, Crouch said, "It’s no coincidence Indiana is both fiscally strong and is a leader in financial transparency. Open access to government finances is essential to a free society, as it provides citizens with the greatest opportunity to truly hold their representatives accountable by shining a light on how their hard-earned dollars are spent. This in turn creates a more efficient and responsive government."