Transparency First: Comptroller Prioritizes Openness Among Initial Actions
Kingston, NY (January 21, 2020) – Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher announces new initiatives to enhance transparency and accountability across County operations. These efforts include the release of Ulster County vendor payments and a tip line for accountability measures.
In the spirit of open government, the Comptroller’s website now hosts an ongoing and up-to-date list of monthly Ulster County vendor payments. This database contains all expenditures to businesses, nonprofits,and government entities paid by the County in 2019.
“The County spends millions of dollars across hundreds of outside vendors every month, and it’s time our taxpayers know exactly where our money is being spent. People can now effortlessly follow where–and to whom –our tax dollars are going,” said Comptroller Gallagher. “I am committed to keeping this data current.Transparency enables ethical issues to be monitored in a timely way and review of vendor data can help to achieve efficiencies.”
The Ulster County Vendor Payment Database can be found through the Comptroller’s website https://comptroller.ulstercountyny.gov/ in a downloadable, searchable, and easily analyzable format for the first time ever.Available data includes the vendor name, payment amount, and date of payment for all of 2019.This data will be updated monthly going forward.Starting today,an efficiency tip line goes live, which includes email, phone, and traditional mail options for employees, residents, businesses, and others to confidentially and discreetly send tips to the Comptroller:
Phone: (845) 481-0420
Email: ulstertip@gmail.com
Mailing Address:
Ulster County Comptroller
P.O. Box 1800
Kingston, New York 12402
“If someone knows of an opportunity for the County to benefit from efficiencies and ethical improvements then I want to know too,” said Comptroller Gallagher. “This tip line will give people the confidence to speak honestly about ethics improvements and efficiencies without fear for their employment status or contractual relationships.”
“I look forward to working with the new Comptroller to make Ulster County operations as efficient and transparent as possible,” said County Executive Pat Ryan. “Government must work together to provide the best services at the lowest cost for our residents. That is what working with Team Ulster County is all about.”
