For the first time ever, state spending for the past seven years - $408 billion of it - is available online at a new database, Ohiocheckbook.com. The online checkbook was set up by state Treasurer Josh Mandel, who says it pushes ahead to the front of the pack nationally in terms of government spending transparency.

Ohiocheckbook.com, the state�s new online checkbook, pulls back the curtain on state government to give taxpayers a better look at how their money is spent.

There are really big numbers � $408 billion in total state spending in the past seven fiscal years. And smaller numbers � $98,492 spent by the Ohio Department of Public Safety for those little stickers that go on license plates.

Ohiocheckbook.com, which went �live� at 9 a.m. yesterday, was created by state Treasurer Josh Mandel, who says it pushes Ohio to the front of the pack nationally in government-spending transparency. While 37 other states have online spending access, none has the depth and ease of use of Ohio�s system, Mandel said.

The system contains searchable spending details for fiscal years 2008 to 2014, ending annually on June 30. It includes 112 million transactions, 3.9 billion pieces of financial information and is searchable by agency, spending category, vendor and other variables. It even shows facsimile checks for expenditures.

Searches can be done by agency, spending category or individual expenditure, such as rape-test kits for hospitals ($2.9 million in 2014); DNA testing in prisons ($3.8 million); ammunition ($520,117); housekeeping supplies ($6.7 million); and indigent funeral services ($69,687 in adult and youth prisons and through the Department of Developmental Disabilities).

The checkbook tallies the largest spending category each year, as well as individual companies that have received the most state money.

For 2014, the top 10 companies were: UnitedHealth Group ($313.5 million); Shelly & Sands, construction ($224.9 million); Kokosing, construction, ($189 million); Ohio Power, electricity ($171.5 million); Medical Mutual ($157.9 million); Shelly Co., aggregates ($145.7 million); Centralize Collections

($117.2 million); Catamaran Rx ($112.7 million); Central Ohio Transit Authority ($112 million in distribution of taxes); and Beaver Excavating ($88.6 million).

A �compare� feature also allows users to look at categories across agencies or over the years. For example, a search for travel prompts a color graphic to pop up showing the state spent $25.4 million in 2008 but $19.3 million this fiscal year.

Like most households, paying off debt is a burden: about $1.58 billion annually for interest and principal on bonds.

The data in the checkbook is gleaned from the Ohio Administrative Knowledge System, a state computerized accounting program in place since 2008.

The database cost $813,980 for hardware, software and related services. The money came from savings made through cuts to Mandel�s treasurer�s office budget.

�Taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent. We wanted to have an online checkbook that citizens can navigate and hold politicians accountable,� Mandel said. �By doing this, I�m going to tick off a bunch of politicians in the state, and I don�t care. I feel strongly people have a right to know.�

The system is accessible to anyone with a computer but has security provisions to prevent hacking, Mandel said. Information can be downloaded or shared on social media such as Twitter and Facebook.

The information is all public record but was not easily accessible in the past except by sometimes time-consuming public-records requests to state agencies.

State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-Berea, sponsored House Bill 175 to require future treasurers to maintain the database. The bill is under consideration in the legislature. �Ohiocheckbook.com is an important step forward for taxpayers,� Dovilla said in a statement.

The online checkbook concept was supported by the Ohio Newspaper Association, the Ohio Public Interest Research Group, Common Cause and the Buckeye Institute.

ajohnson@dispatch.com

@ohioaj