TexasBudgetSource.com is proud to bring you the latest news, research, and commentary on Texas transparency.

Remember you can always find new additions to School District, County and City budgets and check registers every quarter through this email newsletter and by checking TexasBudgetSource.com. In this edition:

• Multimedia - Watch Texas Comptroller Susan Combs talk about her office's latest efforts to make Texas government more transparent or hear from the Comptroller as she is interviewed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation on transparency.
• Publications - Read TexasBudgetSource's white paper on Texas transparency
• Commentaries - Learn how our staff is working to keep you up-to-date on local government budgets and check registers
• News Headlines
• Feedback

Multimedia

Publications

Texas Transparency: Then and Now
By Talmadge Heflin and James Quintero
Modern-day financial transparency is still a relatively new phenomenon in American government. A great majority of states are only now beginning to come to terms with the concept of open government in the 21st century, but Texas has built up an impressive portfolio or transparency accomplishments in recent years. Read More...

Commentaries

TexasBudgetSource2008: The Process and the Data
By Michael Joyce
Every quarter TexasBudgetSource manually checks URL links for each school district, county, and the 100 largest cities in Texas to bring you the most up-to-date findings in government transparency. Read More...

News Headlines

Official says she'll release report
Austin American Statesman
Jan. 26, 2009: Austin City Council Member Laura Morrison, after refusing to release a draft of an ordinance that would alter how the city negotiates with businesses that are offered tax incentives to move here, said late Wednesday that she would release the document. Read More...

Requests for public data lead to frustrating waits
The Corpus Christi Caller Times
Jan. 11, 2009: The city took 15 days to comply with a Caller-Times request for a copy of its policy for fulfilling public information requests. The same request, submitted to the cities of San Antonio and Lubbock, was a same-day turnaround. Read More...

A look at the Texas Public Information Act
The Galveston County Daily News
Jan. 1, 2009: It’s something of a New Year’s tradition for us to outline the law guaranteeing what is perhaps the most basic right of every citizen of Texas: the right to know what your governments are up to. Read More...

Texas grades state agencies and local governments on financial transparency
Government Technology
Dec. 5, 2008: Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says transparency initiatives have allowed the state to tighten its belt by shedding light on potential savings. On Wednesday, Combs introduced “Open Books Texas,” a three-part effort to ensure tax dollars go farther in challenging economic times. Read More...