Budget Data Visualizations in Schleswig-Holstein (DE0056)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? The public sector is often accused of lacking transparency and efficiency in the way it handles taxpayers’ money. Many people find the absolute figures that are communicated publicly, often in the millions or billions, difficult to put into context. Abstract percentages are also not always conducive to better understanding. For many people, it is hard to see how the taxes that they contribute to the budget relate to the services that the public sector provides. Even though all data about budgetary incomings and outgoings are published, this is still all too often done in the form of stark printouts, hidden in PDF documents or, the best-case scenario, as open data sets – which, however, only experts can deal with. Despite this trans- parency, therefore, it is still very time-consuming for members of the public to understand what their taxes are being spent on.

What is the commitment? Schleswig-Holstein will set up an online platform on which budget data will be presented to the public in easy-to-access interactive formats. Alongside typical diagram visualisations, a “per capita breakdown” is also planned in which users can see their own theoretical share in particular budget areas (such as education or coastal protection).

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem? These easy-to-access interactive visualisations of budget data will give members of the public the opportunity to gain a comprehensive picture of how their (tax) contributions are used. The inclusion of certain municipalities will contribute to better understanding. This will provide an objective basis for discussions about the supposed wasting of taxpayers’ money and a tool for members of the public, the media and other stakeholders to, for example, swiftly check the veracity of false claims.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? This project will enhance transparency about the use of public funds. Easier access to budget information will mean that the budget decisions of those in government at the Land and local levels will come under scrutiny from a larger number of members of the public. Criticism of (budget-related) decisions will consequently be based on data and facts and serve to strengthen democracy in Schleswig-Holstein.

Additional information: Schleswig-Holstein open data portal (in German): opendata.schleswig-holstein.de Schleswig-Holstein Open Data Act (Offene-Daten-Gesetz) (in German): http://www.gesetze-rechtsprechung.sh.juris.de/bssh/document/jlr-OpenDataGSHrahmen/part/X

Milestone activity with a verifiable deliverable | Start date - Implementation by

Definition of format for transmitting local-authority annual financial statements and budgets | July 2023 - September 2023

Definition of machine-readable standard; capacity for automated feed-in of local-authority annual financial statements and budgets | September 2023 - Early 2024

Initial version of visualisation | 1st quarter of 2024 - 2nd quarter of 2024

Final version of visualisation | 3rd quarter of 2024 - 1st quarter of 2025