Why it Matters: Making vendor payment information easily accessible to the general public is another way to promote an open and accountable government. This practice also lowers the potential for employees to be tempted to doing something unethical like paying themselves or family members, since they would know that information is discoverable without a FOIA request (n104) (o135)

Data Source: Government accounting software typically allows for exports of various reports including vendor payments . The data found in this chart is from information provided directly from the local unit of government or school district. (n103)