Transparency Tools

When it comes to promoting transparency in state and local government, few, if any, states have done as much as Texas has. To date, the state has undertaken several major initiatives, including (in alphabetical order):

• Leadership Circle – an initiative to recognize local governments that are progressing along the path of open government.
• Legislative Appropriations Requests Online – a comprehensive listing of all state agency appropriation requests compiled in one location.
• Open Data Center – a new service that seeks to provide direct access to machine-readable, platform-independent raw datasets, as well as other important data tools.
• Single Set of Books – an effort to create the foundation for a single set of books for all state agencies. Benefits may include better data tracking; more reliable information; and improved comparison capabilities across state agencies.
• State Contracts Search – the state’s contract searching tool that allows users to sort through contract information based on document type, fiscal year, agency, vendor, and value.
• TexasSmartBuy – an online purchasing system for state and local governments that seeks to boost competitiveness among vendors by having one central location for purchases.
• TexasTransparency.org – a “one-stop shop” to find many of the state’s existing transparency initiatives and new, innovative ideas.