Washoe County invites the public to a “Budget 101” event at the County Administrative Complex on July 22. This event will provide an introductory look at funding sources and expenditures with a focus on the new online Washoe Checkbook.
Comptroller Cathy Hill and Budget Manager Lori Cooke will lead a 40-minute presentation on basic county budgeting and how to use the Washoe Checkbook, a new online interactive tool for viewing revenue and expenditures across all county departments in near real-time.
“The budget is a financial plan for implementing the county’s strategic objectives,” Cooke said. “The Checkbook is the visual proof of the implementation of the budget. It shows exactly what has been spent on what and when. It’s truly the next level of transparency, and we are so proud to offer it to residents.”
The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 22, with a welcome from Commissioner Clara Andriola, who worked closely with State Controller Andy Matthews to launch the Washoe Checkbook on the heels of Matthews’ Nevada Open Finance Portal.
“Government is funded by the people, so that’s why it’s important to me that we make every effort to show the people where their money is going,” Andriola said. “This is about transparency and partnership with residents so they have every opportunity to understand how their tax dollars are being used to provide the services and programs that they’ve come to expect from their government.”
After the presentation, staff will answer questions that are submitted via an online portal prior to the event. Question cards will also be available during the event, and anything not answered that night will be addressed by staff in the following weeks.
