Well-respected for its regular reports and data, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center “provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies, as well as economic issues, with particular attention to the effects on low-and moderate-income people.”

After many years of relying on traditional print publications, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center wanted an online tool that anyone could use simply and intuitively. Database Designs partnered with MBPC to develop an innovative “Budget Browser" tool for their website.

With this tool, you can search for a particular budget line item or spending topic. Then you can track the progress of specific spending proposals as they work their way through the Legislature and the executive department. And, you can compare funding from one year to the next, going back to 2001. The online browser puts significant data and research into the hands of small organizations statewide, with easy to interpret charting and graphing output.

Database Designs lead developer, Emily Graham, commented: “Microsoft .Net provided a good match to the requirements. It enabled us to take advantage of other web search systems we have built, manage the import from Excel spreadsheets, and use powerful low cost charting tools.”

Check it out at http://browser.massbudget.org/