Frequently Asked Questions 

Accountability

What accountability and transparency steps does the Governor plan to take?
I heard I'd be able to track Recovery funds. Can I do that now?
Is the spending data on the Oklahoma Recovery Web site available in a format (like XML) that developers can use to create mashups and gadgets?
Can I sign up for notifications when there are announcements made? 
How do I report suspected fraud in Oklahoma involving Recovery funds?

Question: What accountability and transparency steps does the Governor plan to take?

Answer: In addition to Federal oversight, Gov. Henry has appointed the State Auditor and Inspector to oversee and account for all funds Oklahoma receives. To aid the general public in tracking projects and expenditures, this Web site will report detailed information related to each program. The stimulus package rules for responsible spending include: 

• Strict time limits for obligating funds;
• Public access to contract and grant information;
• Requirements for competitive contracting;
• Certifications by the Governor or local officials that infrastructure expenditures have been reviewed and are an appropriate use of tax dollars; and
• Reports on how the state distributes funds it receives, the estimated number of new or saved jobs, tax increases averted and other information.

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Question: I heard I'd be able to track recovery funds.  Can I do that now?

Answer: You aren't able to track funds yet because we have not yet started receiving information from Federal agencies on how they are going to allocate the money. It takes a little bit of time for them to make sure your money is going to be spent wisely. Right now, this site features an overview of the law and an explanation of what it is intended to accomplish. You will have access to data as soon as we begin receiving it.

 
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Question: Is the spending data on the  Oklahoma Recovery web site available in a format (like XML) that developers can use to create mash-ups and gadgets?

Answer:  Not at this time. But, as new systems are developed to capture the allocations and expenditures under the Act, we plan to make that data available in exportable form.

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Question:  Can I sign up for notifications when there are announcements made?

Answer:  Absolutely - simply click the "Alerts" link at this page and sign up to receive e-mail notifications from state officials when they send out releases. We are also working on other technologies such as providing this site as an RSS feed and perhaps the addition of update via Twitter. These decisions are still in the works, but we'll update this page as more information is available.

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Question:  How do I report suspected fraud in Oklahoma involving Recovery funds?

Answer: The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the State Auditor and Inspector are working in cooperation on a fraud hotline.To report suspected abuse of Recovery funds in Oklahoma, please call 1-877-259-7337.

 
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