Transparency Rankings

Growing expenditures made at the county government level require a greater level of transparency.

With this in mind, Texas Budget Source has developed its own transparency rankings to recognize local government that lead, put an effort into, or can improve upon transparency initiatives, according to three categories: exemplary, pass, and fail. These rankings are based on an analysis of what information the county has posted online—e.g. budgets, check registers, and financial statements—as well as the quantity of information available; how prominently it is displayed; how searchable the information is; and whether the data is in an easily downloadable format that users can manipulate.

More counties will be added to these rankings as their information is reviewed. If your county is currently ranked by Texas Budget Source, but has upgraded its transparency, please send a note to Texas Budget Source [hyperlink admin email address].

The categories are defined below:

• Exemplary
  An “exemplary” ranking indicates that a local government has exceeded basic expectations of open government.
• Pass
  A “pass” designation indicates a local government that has taken steps to become transparent, but with room for improvement.
• Fail
  A rank of “fail” denotes an entity that is not meeting its obligation to make public information available, accessible, or searchable.

Exemplary Counties

Dallas
Dallas County’s transparency initiative is considered exemplary based on its effort to post budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers.

El Paso
El Paso County’s transparency initiative is considered exemplary based on its effort to post budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers.

Harris
Harris County’s transparency initiative is considered exemplary based on its effort to post budgets, financial reports, and monthly check registers.

Passing Counties

Bexar
Bexar County is granted a rank of passing for its effort to include various budget and financial documents online; the inclusion of check register data to expand local government transparency is needed for improvement.

Tarrant
Tarrant County is granted a rank of passing for its effort to include various budget and financial documents online; the inclusion of check register data to expand local government transparency is needed for improvement.

Travis
Travis County is granted a rank of passing for its effort to include various budget and financial documents online; the inclusion of check register data to expand local government transparency is needed for improvement.

Failing Counties

Each of the following cities has made minimal attempts to provide fiscal transparency to the public. These cities may have tried to post at least one budget to their site, but remain well short of what we consider to be complete fiscal transparency.

1) Anderson
2)Gillespie
3) Hays