The State of Alaska is publishing information from the statewide accounting system on the web. This is part of a national trend for governments to develop websites that allow constituents to view financial information in searchable formats. Such websites are widely considered to improve transparency into the financial operations of government.

Governor Palin supported this trend, and as a result, this website was created. Governor Parnell has demonstrated his strong support by ensuring the website stays highly visible. It includes:

• All vendors and grantees who received at least one payment of $1,000 or more in the current fiscal year through the end of September 2009. Individual payments of less than $1,000 are not included.
• Information presented includes the name and location of the vendor or grantee, the purpose of the payment, and the department that requested it.
• Payment information is aggregated. All payments of $1,000 or more are included, but amounts presented may be lower when payments are issued for more than one purpose.

Payments from certain payment systems have been excluded based on a confidentiality analysis performed by the Department of Law.

Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) payments are not presented in Checkbook Online. Information on these annual payments is available on the PFD website.