Auditor Bob Grogan Posts DuPage County Check Register

By Adam Andrzejewski

“These new reports in essence put the county’s checkbook online giving residents the ability to ensure their elected officials are being responsible with their hard earned money.”  - Bob Grogan, DuPage County Auditor.

Taking office on December 1, 2008, Bob Grogan has already made good government history in Illinois by posting online the check registry of DuPage County. DuPage becomes the first of the 102 Illinois counties to embrace financial transparency.  With an operating budget of $530 million, DuPage County is now the largest unit of Illinois government to post their check registry!

Having only 40 days in office-  a large portion of which comprised the Christmas holiday season-  Grogan managed to post the 1,620 page check registry of fiscal year 2008 on the auditor’s website!  Moving with purpose and direction, Grogan created a 3-way searchable report of all county spending.  Clearly laid out, the reports contain very useful information:  check number, vendor name, description, purchase order number, amount, budget code, and date for each check. 

And, Bob Grogan accomplished this feat without one penny of cost to taxpayers!

“During the current fiscal year, each report will be updated on a monthly basis and the previous fiscal year’s reports will also be available.  This is all being done at no additional cost to the taxpayers,” said Grogan.  “I am encouraging citizens to use our new webpage and call my Office if they have any questions about the contents of the reports.” 

So who is this leader who has cut the ribbon on good government in DuPage County?  Discussing transparency with him over the course of the last month, I can tell you that Bob Grogan serves as auditor with the true spirit of public service.  He is of the philosophy that public spending should be done publically and not under the cloak of privacy.   And, Grogan’s actions speak louder than words!

Grogan’s track record looks to be that of a financial hawk.  At the United Way DuPage, Grogan led a consolidation effort whereby 6 organizations became one more efficient unit with expenses reduced by 30%.  His United Way branch had the lowest cost structure compared to other branches.  He was the 2006 winner of United Way Vision and Leadership Award.

Grogan is a certified public accountant, graduate of Miami University (Ohio) and the College of DuPage with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  Since 2002, he sits on the College of DuPage Accounting Department Advisory Board, volunteering his time.  He is Vice-Chairman of the Downers Grove Township Republican Organization and a precinct committeeman since 1998.

As Republicans look for a 2010 renaissance, many lament the lack of bench strength within the party.  “Where is the next generation of Republican leadership” seems to be the question of our many.  Bob Grogan has given all of us an early reason to smile!

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