A six-month process to compile more timely information about Orange County finances is now complete.

A new portal is now online that will make information about Orange County’s budget publicly available. The Financial Transparency Portal was unveiled on Tuesday night by Chief Financial Officer Gary Donaldson.

“The purpose of it is to provide an alternate means to assess the county’s financial operations,” said Donaldson.

Residents can go to the page and find updated information about total expenditures from various departments, including education, general government, public safety, school debt services and OPC mental health.

“It just offers another view,” said Donaldson. “Obviously, the analytical information will be done on a quarterly basis. But this puts it at residents’ fingertips.

The portal has three years of expenditures from every county department, the year-to-date budget and plans for the 2017 budget. Donaldson says it’s a comprehensive look at how Orange County is spending its money.

It took six months for Donaldson, Paul Lutton, Darryl Butts and Pascal Moore to design the website. But Donaldson says it will be constantly updated.

“We will be adding pertinent information and content as we proceed with it,” said Donaldson.

The County Commissioners collectively applauded the presentation from Donaldson. Chairman Earl Mckee was particularly impressed.

“I think we can all agree anybody whose willing and interesting can drill down to the final detail,” said McKee. “Folks that criticize us for throwing away money, they ought to spend some time drilling down to where the money goes so maybe they can find something that we’re throwing away.”

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