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Council moves to create 'Bossier Checkbook' online finance portal
Summary
The Bossier City Council voted to establish a one-year pilot 'Bossier Checkbook' open finance portal to give residents searchable access to city spending; council members said the portal responds to repeated constituent requests for transparency.
The Bossier City Council on July 21 adopted a resolution directing city administration to establish a “Bossier Checkbook” open finance portal as a one-year pilot and to consider funding it in next year's budget. Councilman Chris Smith said the portal would make it easier for residents to see how tax dollars are spent.
"That's been one of the most resounding questions I think we've all received — you get our tax dollars and what do you do with it?" Councilman Chris Smith said, urging the council to provide constituents a platform to review municipal finances. The resolution passed on a voice vote with no public opposition recorded.
Smith said the current city software has similar capabilities but the resolution allows staff to evaluate options and include a pilot in the budget. "We're just kinda following suit, and I think it's a great step forward to letting citizens kind of have a peek behind the veil of how those tax dollars are spent," he said. The council discussed adding the portal to next year's budget as a one-year pilot to assess usefulness and cost.
