Last week, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs unveiled her office’s latest effort to promote open government: the Leadership Circle.
The program – considered to be the first part of a two-step, carrot-and-stick approach – spotlights local governments in Texas that are “opening their books to the public; providing clear, consistent pictures of spending; and sharing information in a user-friendly format that lets taxpayers easily drill down for more information.”
Program participation is free and local governments even score themselves, though the results are verified by the Comptroller’s office. Based on the participant’s answers and the extent to which they have embraced transparency, one of three awards are given:
– Gold: Awarded to government entities that are “setting the bar in their transparency efforts;” – Silver: Presented to those making progress; and – Bronze: Given to those just starting the process.
The Leadership Circle’s first winners include: City of Tyler (Gold), Smith County (Gold), Tyler ISD (Gold), Arp ISD (Bronze), Chapel Hill ISD (Bronze), and Lindale ISD (Bronze).
Recognizing cities, counties, and school districts – like those listed above – is a great, low-cost way to reward local officials for their efforts. But even more importantly, the program helps keep the transparency issue in the public eye. And if the transparency movement is going to continue to be a force for good government, the public must constantly see it and demand it.
– James Quintero