The Online Government Open Accountability Ledger is an initiative to dramatically increase accountability in government revenue and spending.

Governments that follow the OnlineGOAL principles will provide access to details regarding every dollar received or spent by the government, whilst protecting individual privacy and national security. These principles will provide the accountability regarding government money that will ensure responsible government taxation and spending. OnlineGOAL can, and should, be applied at every level of government -- Federal, State and Local.

What are the general principles of OnlineGOAL?

1. A government is ultimately accountable to its citizens for taxation imposed and spending performed.
2. Accurate and open communication is an essential part of accountability.
3. Privacy of individuals must be respected
4. National security must be preserved.

How would OnlineGOAL work?

 Every government agency will be required to submit to a central location detailed information regarding every dollar that it receives and spends. In the interests of individual privacy and national security, certain categories or types of expenses or revenue will be required to be submitted in an aggregate form. These categories would be clearly defined, published and approved by the chief executive officer (in the case of the Federal government, this would be the President). In any case, every dollar will be required to be reported.

What kinds of information would be included?

 Any transfer of money that leaves a government agency or department's financial control must be included. (This will include inter-agency transfers.) Reporting would be required to occur within a set period of time after a transaction occurs (i.e. when actual money is transferred). All revenue, expenses and asset purchases would be reported.

At a minimum, the following would be made available:

• Government Agency, with specific department
  
• Transaction date
• Transaction amount
• Recipient / Sender
  
• Description
• Authorizing Officer(s)

Other information may also be presented:

• Reference to legislation regarding revenue or expenses
• Reference to any bidding process (if held)
  
• Budgeted or forecasted amounts
  

In specific cases (such as to preserve individual privacy in the case of government employees), only aggregate transaction data would be presented. However, aggregating amounts would not be permitted across different types of transactions (i.e. munitions vs equipment vs compensation; or payroll tax vs income tax vs 401(k) contributions).

Additional information would be available to government auditors that would allow them to easily trace back to the original source of the published data.

Who would administer OnlineGOAL?

 Each government would have an independent agency that would be responsible for maintaining the database and online site. In the case of the Federal government, the agency would most likely be the Government Accountability Office.

Examples

 It is important that transaction detail is as specific as possible without compromising individual privacy (such as paying a federal employee) or national security (such as purchase of munitions). The chief executive officer (ie. the President) of the government will be responsible for approving and having published the categories or types of transactions (i.e. payroll tax vs income tax) that may be aggregated to maintain these two interests (national security and privacy).

 Individual transaction - Expense

 Agency: NASA; Rocket Development Department, Houston, TX.
 Date: 20th Oct 2007
 Amount: $5,500.31
 Recipient: ACME Rockets Ltd
 Description: Supply of: 500 valves (type ABC); 10000 2" washers
 Officer(s): Mary Public (Chief Supply Officer)
 Other Details: Project: Orion II

 Aggregate Transaction - Expenses

 Agency: Treasury; Social Security Administration, Houston, TX
 Date: 22nd Oct 2007
 Amount: $193,303
 Recipient: Unemployed in ZIP: 50500
 Description: Two-week Unemployment benefits for 523 recipients in ZIP: 50500
 Officer(s): John Q Public (Chief Payment Officer); Jane X Mary (Social Security Benefits Officer)
 Other Details: None

 Aggregate Transaction - Revenue

 Agency: Treasury; Internal Revenue Service
 Date: 20th Oct 2007
 Amount: $3,193,303
 Sender: Federal Payroll Tax from ZIP: 10202
 Description: Federal Payroll Tax from companies reporting from ZIP: 10202
 Officer(s): Jane T Public (Chief Receipts Officer)
 Other Details: None

What next?

 If you support this initiative, please contact your local, state or federal government official or candidate and express your support for it. You can also Contact us with any questions or comments.