Indio Denizens to Get Financial Data at Fingertips

New tool in city of Indio will give residents easy access financial data

INDIO – Have you ever wondered about the city’s total losses, total savings or projected cash flow but did not know who to ask or have the time to track down the information? You will soon be able to access that financial data and more.

Members of the public looking for information about the City of Indio’s budget and spending will soon be able to access Open Finance, an online search tool designed to increase the accessibility and transparency of the City’s financial data.  Coincidentally, Open Finance will launch at the start of the new fiscal year, allowing the public to quickly and easily view information.

“The City of Indio continuously strives to provide accurate, timely, and relevant financial information,” said Rob Rockwell, Assistant City Manager and Director of Finance.  “We look forward to the upcoming debut of Open Finance ushering in a new level of citizen engagement and interaction.”

Citizens using Open Finance can see where City revenues are coming from and how they are spent, budgeted versus actual revenues and expenditures, as well as vendor payments. Interactive charts and graphs within the site provide several options to view financial information in an easy-to-read format.  Users can dive deeper into the details by simply hovering over, or clicking on, the chart pieces. Users can explore the operating budget, view revenues and expenditures by category, and drill down to more specific information for each category.

Within the vendor payments section, the public can learn who the City’s top vendors are, view spending summaries, and even see vendor payments over time. A vendor checkbook feature will also be available for those interested in viewing detailed vendor payment information. Additional information on City payroll data is expected to be available later this year.

Municipalities already using the site include Chelsea, Mass., Fairbanks, Alaska, and locally, Indian Wells, Calif.  Open Finance can be accessed via mobile phone, desktop, or tablet at www.indio.org/openfinance, and will be updated weekly, providing timely and reliable public information.