OpenMSD: MSD's Financial Transparency Initiative

	OpenMSD: FAQ
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MSD has created this page of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to help guide users through the OpenMSD web site and to help explain and provide more details about the information and data that is accessible. We have chosen to provide this FAQ web page to cover more general questions and answers while providing a more specific FAQ section at the end of each web section. As we hear from our users, all the FAQs will expand and be updated. Help us make this web site more valuable to you by letting us know what you think. To send us your views, comments or ask us any questions, please go to our Feedback page.

Frequently Asked Questions: (Click on the question to see the answer)

1. Why did MSD create the OpenMSD web site?

As a result of the recent “transparency” movement throughout the country and based on the passage of Resolution No. 93, Series 2011 by Louisville Metro government, all the boards and commissions in Louisville Metro are required to publish their financial and contractual information on a web site.

2. How often is the information/data on the site updated?

Each section of the OpenMSD web site contains a statement at the end of the initial page telling the user how often the information in that section is updated. However, to briefly summarize, expenditure data is updated daily, salary information is updated weekly (MSD pays its employees on a weekly basis); agreements and purchase orders are updated as they are approved, while other information is posted on various timeframes as the data becomes available.

3. Can the data be downloaded so more detailed analysis can be performed?

Most of the OpenMSD pages have a link that can be used to download the data on the screen to an Excel spreadsheet for further use. In addition, all the data used to generate the revenue, expenditure and salary information pages can be downloaded in a tab delimited file format that can be imported into your application of choice. The raw data files will be updated as the original data online is updated. In the case of revenue and expenditure data, updates will be on a daily basis through the work week, while the employee salary data will be updated on a weekly basis. Click here to access the MSD Records web page.

4. Why are calendar years used sometimes and rather than fiscal years?

All financial data reported on the OpenMSD website is based on MSD’s Fiscal year (July1 – June 30). Other data like Board meetings, customer service and employee salaries are based on the calendar year because that’s generally how most people think about those activities. MSD contracts are posted by a mix of calendar and fiscal year or whenever they are issued. Contracts are often based on when a service starts and may be finished during the year or several years later depending on what is being asked of the vendor.

5. What if I have a question about this site and I can't find the answer?

At the end of each section within the OpenMSD site is a link labeled “Click here for Questions / Comments” so click on it to bring up a form that can be filled out with your question. It will go directly to the subject matter expert on that particular topic. In addition you can call 505-587-0603 to reach our Customer Relations department or submit your question or service request using MSD's Online Service Center.

Click here for Questions / Comments