Transparency Rankings

Growing expenditures made by special districts require a greater level of transparency.

With this in mind, Texas Budget Source has developed its own transparency rankings to recognize special districts 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 special district 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. The categories are defined below:

The categories are defined below:

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

Transparency Ranking Snapshots – Special District

Exemplary Districts

Brushy Creek MUD
Brushy Creek MUD provides transparency to the public with its inclusion of budget documents, financial reports, and check registers, earning itself an exemplary ranking.

Lakeway MUD
Lakeway MUD also received an exemplary ranking for its effort to include budget documents, financial reports, and check registers on its website for public access.

Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
The LCRA has also earned itself an exemplary ranking by posting budget documents, financial reports, and check registers online.

Passing Districts

Austin Community College
Austin Community College provides valuable budget and financial documents dating back almost a decade. Providing the community with check register data will significantly improve its effort towards fiscal transparency.

Houston Ride-Metro
Houston Ride-Metro posts budgets and financial reports for online for public access, but needs to offer access to its agency’s check registers for full transparency.

San Antonio River Authority
San Antonio River Authority provides valuable budget and financial documents dating back almost a decade. Providing the community with check register data will significantly improve its effort towards fiscal transparency.

Failing Districts

Austin Community College
Austin Community College provides valuable budget and financial documents dating back almost a decade. Providing the community with check register data will significantly improve its effort towards fiscal transparency.

Houston Ride-Metro
Houston Ride-Metro posts budgets and financial reports for online for public access, but needs to offer access to its agency’s check registers for full transparency.

San Antonio River Authority
San Antonio River Authority provides valuable budget and financial documents dating back almost a decade. Providing the community with check register data will significantly improve its effort towards fiscal transparency.