Remember those historic recruiting posters of Uncle Sam saying he wants you for the U.S. Army? Forget them. The Army actually needs Cliff Hayes. Hayes, the veteran police chief turned Kootenai County clerk, is doing his bit for transparency, and government solvency, by posting all county expenditures online. Pizzas for lunch at daylong meeting, $62.22. At least one county official says it makes him extra attentive to budget decisions, knowing every payout is going to be itemized and publicized, and he’d better be ready to justify it. “I think that’s what Cliff’s goal was,” said James Martin, information services director, “full disclosure”/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. More here.

Question: Should all local governments do what County Clerk Cliff Hayes has done -- and print county expenditures online?