Topinka Announces New Financial Records Database

Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka has unveiled a new website that she says will increase transparency of how local governments spend money, but her political challenger is not impressed.

Topinka, a Republican, is going on a statewide tour to show off what her office calls "The Warehouse." She describes it as a "user-friendly database" that will allow people to view thousands of local government financial records.

"We're essentially allowing taxpayers to scour The Warehouse from wherever they are, to seek whatever they want to learn," she said.

Topinka is facing a challenge in her bid for re-election from Democrat Sheila Simon, who is currently Illinois' lieutenant governor. 

In a statement, Simon said under Topinka's watch, there have been too many missed opportunities to spot corruption at the local level. Simon added that "repurposing a web address with the same information that could already be found on the comptroller website is too little and too late."