Maryland Receives “D+” in Report on Transparency of Government Spending

Maryland PIRG Foundation and Frontier Group

Maryland received a “D+” for its government spending transparency website, according to “Following the Money 2018: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data,” the eighth report of its kind by the Maryland PIRG Foundation and Frontier Group.

The report graded each state’s transparency website from “A” to “F” based on its content and user-friendliness. This year, for the first time, we worked with focus groups to see how well the ordinary Americans could navigate the sites. With that new standard, most states’ grades dropped from our previous report.

“When states are transparent about how they spend tax dollars, we all win: the state saves money, it can operate more efficiently and effectively, and citizens can feel more confident in their government,” said Maryland PIRG Director Emily Scarr. “That’s why Maryland should invest in accessible, comprehensive, online spending data.”

The report found that many states’ websites lack features that make them intuitive for users, such as a full search function, standardized data descriptions and interactive tools. 

Maryland qualifies as an “lagging” state. Transparent information is only as useful as it is accessible. In today’s digital world, state websites should aspire to be as usable as the many other sites the average citizen visits. Maryland’s site most suffers from an outdated user-interface that makes it challenging to find specific expenditures in the state checkbook. The state could most improve its transparency by revamping its site to improve its user-friendliness and functionality. 

“These sites can often be confusing for citizen users. Our focus groups put transparency websites to the test and found only a handful meet the expectations of a 21st century user.” said Rachel J. Cross, a Frontier Group analyst and report co-author.

Maryland officials reported that their transparency portal cost $65,000 plus existing staff time, at launch and costs approximately $5,000 to maintain annually.

Visit Maryland’s transparency website.

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The Maryland PIRG Foundation works to protect consumers and promote good government. We investigate problems, craft solutions, educate the public, and offer meaningful opportunities for civic participation.