HELENA - Gov. Brian Schweitzer on Wednesday unveiled a Web site that he said will detail how federal stimulus funds are being spent in Montana, but so far the site mostly just lists projects and general areas where the nearly $2 billion is allocated.

"We've had a lot of folks say, 'Government needs to be more transparent, more accountable,' " he said at a Capitol news conference. "You will be able to track every penny of recovery dollars."

Schweitzer staffers demonstrated the site, www.recovery.mt.gov, including a map showing amounts allocated for each Montana county, and for which general purpose.

For example, the site says Montana's most populous county, Yellowstone, will see an extra $104 million for road projects, water projects, human services, unemployment funds and education.

Further details on those actual projects and expenditures, however, either aren't yet available or were listed in a 334-page monthly report that is difficult to read or interpret.

The May 31 report, available on a link from the Web site as the "governor's monthly report," also initially had some location errors, sometimes listing the wrong county for a project.

Jayson O'Neill, the governor's deputy communications director, said those mistakes would be fixed starting Wednesday evening, and that the site will be refined, improved and updated as time goes on and more information becomes available.

"We're just trying to get the information out to people so they can see it, see what they're getting in their community," he said.

Schweitzer said as contracts are let, the public will be able to see the amount, contract date, projected completion date and number of jobs created. The site also will have photographs of major highway projects and other building projects, he said.

"So town by town, project by project, county by county, you'll be able to follow it all," he said.

The site listed the 69 highway projects funded by $211 million of stimulus funds, as approved by the state Transportation Commission in March.

As of Tuesday, 39 of those projects had been awarded to contractors. That information wasn't on the Web site initially, but after a Gazette State Bureau inquiry, Transportation officials said it would be added to the Web site. The information will be refined in the coming days to make it more user-friendly, said Charity Watt Levis, spokeswoman for the state Transportation Department.

The nearly $2 billion of stimulus money for Montana includes federal tax breaks, unemployment benefits, funds for education and human service programs, and funds for water, energy-conservation, highway and other building projects.

It's all part of the stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Barack Obama, intending to create jobs and boost the nation's sagging economy.

Senate President Bob Story, R-Park City, had proposed setting up a commission to oversee and monitor stimulus spending in Montana. His idea was rejected by legislative Democrats and the Schweitzer administration.

Story, who hadn't yet seen the Web site Wednesday, said it sounds like a good start, and that it's fine to have the public being able to see where the money is supposed to be spent. But he said he hopes someone will provide some tracking of how the money actually is spent on various projects.

"You need to look at a sampling of the projects, to see if they were actually done and bid out properly," he said. "It would be good to make sure you're getting your money's worth for what you're spending."

Schweitzer said the projects aren't just "make-work projects," but are well-vetted projects that will make the state safer, cleaner and more energy-efficient.