The Westchester Coalition for Police Reform is proud to announce the launch of a ground-breaking resource: The Westchester County Policing Budget Dashboard . This web-based, interactive data visualization tool promises to empower Westchester residents and local officials alike by providing unprecedented insight into spending on policing and other municipal functions with the click of a button.
The dashboard – which draws on New York State government statistics – offers 3 different “Data Visualizations,” each illuminating a different aspect of local spending. On any visualization page, selecting a city, village or town from the drop-down menu instantly generates a series of charts depicting that municipality’s spending on specific budget items in comparison with County norms..
Kathy Kaufman, who developed the dashboard, summarizes its importance: “ Most of us would spend hours, or even weeks, poring over a spreadsheet to understand our local finances. This tool tells you where the dollars are going, literally in seconds.”
As Susan McAnanama, a WCPR member stated, “Public safety means much more than policing. Communities need money for drug counseling and addiction services, as well as mental health resources. This helps us see where spending is concentrated so that we can evaluate whether our municipal budget actually reflects community priorities.”
The launch of the Westchester County Policing Budget Dashboard represents a significant stride toward greater police transparency, which is central to WCPR’s mission of “building safer communities through a transparent and accountable justice system.” It is also one that the organization expects will provide a model for communities across the country with similar goals.
The Westchester Coalition for Police Reform (WCPR) is a county-wide consortium of organizations and individuals dedicated to building safer communities through a transparent and accountable justice system. Visit http://www.wcprny.org, for more information.