How many years’ worth of budgets must be available on an authority's website?

The requirement for an authority to maintain budgets on its website ensures that there is transparency and accountability in public spending. Specifically, having three years’ worth of budgets readily accessible allows the public to review historical financial data, enabling informed assessments of the authority's fiscal health and decision-making processes over a reasonable timeframe. This three-year period facilitates adequate historical context without overwhelming users with excessive archived data, which would occur if a longer duration were required.

Moreover, this timeframe aligns with many financial accountability practices as it provides a balance between accessibility and manageability, reflecting a commitment to transparency while not burdening the public with a vast archive of outdated information. Thus, the emphasis on three years ensures both current relevance and sufficient historical perspective.