78°F
weather icon Clear

City launches interactive online finance tool

A new online tool that allows citizens to view the city’s revenue and expenses debuted earlier this month.

The “Open Finance Portal” is an interactive tool that provides a detailed look at the city’s expenses and income, allowing access to data for all budgets by function, fund, department, service type and vendor.

“This tool will allow residents to see how much revenue is received and from whom, as well as how each dollar is allocated,” said Diane Pelletier, finance director.

Tyler Technologies developed the tool, Socrata Open Data and Citizen Engagement, that transforms data into graphs, charts, and maps; maximizes data’s value by sharing it with others through the built-in catalog or on social media; and gives technical developers, innovators and entrepreneurs easy access to data.

Financial data will be updated each week and the information is protected so it cannot be manipulated or changed by nonemployees.

“We reviewed several financial software products and found that the Socrata system was the most user-friendly. We hope to receive community feedback on the system throughout the coming year,” Pelletier said.

“In the past two years, Diane and her team have provided comprehensive budget documents, award-winning audited financial reports and more,” said City Manager Al Noyola. “I appreciate the support we received from the mayor and council for understanding the benefit of this technology and investing in the product.”

The portal is on the city’s website and can be accessed by visiting https://bcnv.finance.socrata.com/#!/dashboard.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
BC can ban backyard breeders

Although there is nothing on any city agenda yet, the resolution of the issue of whether pet breeding will be allowed in Boulder City took a huge step forward last week as Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford released an official opinion on the intent and limitations of state law that had been requested by city staff last year.

Completion dates for two road projects pushed back

Mayor Joe Hardy tacitly acknowledged that Boulder City gets, perhaps, more than its fair share of funding from the Regional Transportation Commission, given the city’s size.

Businesses recognized at Chamber awards night

The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce’s annual installation and awards night featured many business owners in town and even had an appearance, albeit an A.I.-generated one, by Audrey Hepburn.

Parallel parking approved

Like so many other things in the world of Boulder City government, the issue of reconfiguring parking in the historic downtown area along Nevada Way, which generated enough heat to cause council members to delay a decision up until the last possible moment, ended with more of a whimper than a bang.

Ways to reduce summer power bills

Now that the thermometer is on the rise outdoors, the cost to cool homes and businesses on the inside is doing the same.

Education news in BC largely positive

In her quarterly report to the city council, Clark County School District Regional Superintendent Deanna Jaskolski was full of positive takes on public schools in Boulder City.

‘It’s in those small moments when you see hope rising’

As Dr. Christina Vela scrolled through her phone, showing photos of girls taking part in various fun activities, for a moment she sounded more like a proud aunt instead of the CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and now, its Healing Center.

Jarvis recognized by city council

Salome Jarvis was involved in planning activities for seniors in long-term care before she started doing that in Boulder City. In fact, she helped create the Southern Nevada Activity Professional Association (SNAPA) in the late 1980s.

Park rangers rescue missing hiker, dog at LMNRA

Last week, a 48-year-old male hiker and his dog were rescued by National Park Service rangers at Lake Mead National Recreation Area after a coordinated, multi-agency search.