ALBANY, N.Y. -- "This new tool allows taxpayers and the media to measure government performance," said The Business Council of NYS President and CEO Kenneth Adams.

It's a simple idea.

The Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow E.J. McMahon said, "We can create more useful information for taxpayers. So if you live in a particular town, you can compare your town to another town."

It's implications - intriguing, if not profound. "Benchmark New York" is a one-stop-shop to see spending, debt, and tax levels in your village, town or city per person.

"You begin to look at addresses you've lived at and where your cousin lives," joked McMahon.

At SeeThroughNY.Net - you can enter the place where you live and find out what it spends per taxpayer on healthcare, sanitation, public safety, and a number of other categories. Then - comparing it to the average costs or costs of another municipality - you can see if you pay a lot or a little for similar services.

"With all these transparency efforts, we hope it ignites a public debate and discussion about taxing and spending in New York State," said McMahon.

Bottom line, they hope the site leads to better questions, like should your village police department look to save money by consolidating with a nearby town, or if you compare village to village, perhaps you're getting a better bang for your buck?

"The government sets the price, and we citizens have a hard time of knowing the value. This gives citizens a way to judge the value," said Adams.

The site doesn't compare special tax districts or school districts yet - and the most recent 2007 numbers may be skewed from large businesses that pay plenty of taxes in some towns.

"Notice cities that have larger taxpayers somehow found a way to spend more than those that don't," said McMahon.

But it could mean more efficient government, by revealing a better place to move your family or relocate your business to - saving you money and pressuring politicians at the same time.

Visit www.seethroughny.net and click on Benchmarks.