Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Seethespending.org rolls out county spending update. Hinds refuses to provide spending information. (Video)

Taxpayers can now review spending by 62 counties on Seethespending.org operated by non-profit Mississippi Center for Public Policy. The Mississippi think tank announced the update to the website today at a press conference. Taxpayers can access county records by department, payee/vendor, or type of spending. The information was obtained through public records requests submitted to Chancery Clerks throughout Mississippi. President Forest Thigpen stated MCPP paid all required fees for the information (Press release and speech transcript by Mr. Thigpen are posted below.).

The updated website provides the spending records of sixty-two counties for the last six years. MCPP provided some data covered by the update:
-more than 50 departments per county
-more than 125 spending categories per county
-184,000 in all counties
-5.5 million total records.

Mr. Thigpen said future updates will include state contracts, school district spending, and county revenues.

Unfortunately, and this will come as little surprise to JJ readers, Hinds County thumbed its nose at Mr. Thigpen and his project as it did not even respond to the public records request. Hinds County did this even though Section 25-61-5(2) of the Mississippi Code states:

"Denial by a public body of a request for access to or copies of public records under this chapter shall be in writing and shall contain a statement of the specific reasons for the denial."

Of course, the Hinds County Board of Supervisors and their attorneys as usual think the law does not apply to them. Mr. Thigpen said:

"However, not all counties have complied with our requests for spending records. Hinds County, for example, has not responded in any way to our request. The taxpaeyrs of Hinds County should demand that their county officials release the data. While most other counties have recognized that the people's money is the people's business, Hinds County has so far said to their residents, "What we do with your money is none of your business." It raises the question, "What are they trying to hide?"

What are they trying to hide indeed. Mr. Thigpen said "If they (Hinds) don't respond by this Thursday, we have prepared a complaint we will file in court against Hinds County to require them to comply.

Here is the video of the press conference. Mr. Thigpen demonstrates how to use the system at 14:08. WAPT's Scott Simmons asked some good questions at 8:28.



Fox40's Courtney Ann Jackson interviews Stacey Pickering after the press conference at the offices of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.
















9 comments:

Frugal Gal said...

Any governmental body that refuses to cooperate with a legal records request should be assumed to be doing something nefarious. The elected officials under whose purview said body exists should be held personally financially responsible for ALL ensuing fines.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Hinds has stalled specifically to force court action. That way the Sups can farm out more work to Precious Martin.

Ironghost said...

3.50: That's good thinking there. I sure wouldn't put it past them.

Anonymous said...

I contribute to the MCPP and urge every loyal reader of JJ (and JFP interns because y'all are using the database ... wink, wink) to do so also.

Plus if you itemize your contribution is tax deductible ... though I realize that probably excludes nearly everyone at the JFP who actually gets paid their pittance and certainly everyone there who gives their labor to Donna Ladd for free.

KaptKangaroo said...

Not unbelievable. Hinds has continued under KF's watchful eye to continue to try and end-run the bright shining light of JJ. They didn't succeed here and I gather MS Center for Public Policy and Stacey Pickering will take this as an opportunity to run amok through their finances; as it should be.

Damn, all they had to do was to agree to tell the truth and be transparent. Wasn't that a plank in the recent Presidential election?

Anonymous said...

If President Oneterm has taught us anything it is that transparency is in the eye of the beholder.

Anonymous said...

Hinds County government has become nothing more than an ATM for the deuce-and-a-half duo of Mr. and Mrs. Precious Tyrone Martin, Sr. With Maw Wise clogging up the courts to prevent any real action, fighting them is like trying to wrestle a bull bare handed. Two bulls actually.

Anonymous said...

You can only imagine the lessons Ma and Pa Martin have learned from Ma and Pa Blackmon.

KaptKangaroo said...

Oh I had to post this....


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Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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