eNews Feb. 12, 2019 – Action Alert

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 - 12:18pm

 

Please make calls today on checkbook bill!

On the docket for the 7:15 a.m. meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 13

The “checkbook” bill—SB1262 (Sturtevant)—will be heard by the House Counties, Cities and Towns Subcommittee #1 tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 7:15 a.m.

Background

SB1262 requires localities with over 25,000 population and each school division with over 5,000 students to post on their website a register of all funds expended in a specified format. The register must include the vendor name, date of payment, amount and a description of the type of expense. The requirement includes credit card purchases.

Action

Please contact your delegates and members of the subcommittee today and ask them to oppose this bill!

Talking points

• The requirements of the bill are so detailed that even localities and school divisions that already post their checkbooks on their websites may not meet the requirements of the bill.
• Localities and school divisions may have to change accounting software and systems. If they do, it will be expensive.
• Last year when similar legislation was introduced, one locality that posts its checkbook on line had 216 interactions in an 8-month period; only 10 were from the United States and most were from Russia.
• Administrative time will be required to ensure that confidential information is not displayed.
• All expenditures and related information are already available through a locality’s budget or through the FOIA process, unless an exemption applies.

VML Contact: Michelle Gowdy, mgowdy@vml.org