A recognized fiscal watchdog with a record of results, Judy Baar Topinka will transform the Comptroller’s Office into a model of government transparency, taxpayer advocacy, and constituent service.

Judy will bring her experience and vision to help end the culture of borrowing that has saddled Illinois with record-high debt and a shrinking jobs base; making Illinois a place where families can prosper, businesses can thrive, and government can live within its means.

THE TOPINKA PLAN:

Taxpayer Advocacy and Protection

The Auditor General found millions of dollars of procurement violations and wasteful spending under the Blagojevich Administration. Regrettably, the state lacks the ability to recoup those funds once they have been spent. A more stringent review process of contract procurement and grant awards would identify problems before they happen and help prevent waste to ensure that taxpayers get every penny’s worth for each project.

As Comptroller, Judy will:

Create a “whistle-blower hotline” for concerned taxpayers and state employees to call and report abuse and waste.

Enhance the contract and grant review process to stop wasteful spending before it occurs, ensuring that all state contracts are properly bid and awarded.

Provide more checks and balances on state spending by establishing a process to more thoroughly review contracts and grants before they are approved and payments are made.

Transparency and Accountability

In order to restore public trust in the management of our state finances, transparency and accountability must be the cornerstones of our fiscal reform policy. A renewed commitment to ensuring public access to state financial information will hold policymakers more accountable for how taxpayer dollars are spent.

As Comptroller, Judy will:

Be a tireless fiscal watchdog and taxpayer advocate as keeper of the public checkbook.

Ensure transparency about state spending and finances through redesigned and more user-friendly public website.

Publish contractual procurement and grant award information, including the descriptions of deliverables, so the public can review how state money is being spent.

A Renewed Commitment to Service

As the state’s chief fiscal officer, the Comptroller has both a unique opportunity and public responsibility to provide efficient constituent service to the people of Illinois.

As Comptroller, Judy will:

Provide enhanced services to constituents through the creation of a constituent services hotline.

Assist small businesses, minority and women-owed businesses and businesses that pay a prevailing wage obtain state contracting opportunities by making information about the contract process available free of charge; thereby encouraging greater competition for public contracts to reduce costs and ensure that taxpayers get the highest quality service at the lowest possible price.

Work to re-establish a rainy day fund to have for use in tough economic times like today.

Strong advocate of combining the Treasurer and Comptroller offices…saving money and duplication of services.