Fort Bend County was awarded the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle “Gold” Award for the fifth year in a row for displaying a high standard of financial transparency online. The award spotlights those local governments 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 detail.
The Texas Comptroller describes transparency as government opening its books to the public so that taxpayers can see exactly where their money is going. Transparency ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently by ensuring all decisions are made in the open and on the record. Transparency means that citizens can review and question policymakers’ decisions, examine documents, root out inefficiencies and hold officials accountable for the way tax dollars are spent.
The Comptroller of Public Accounts launched the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle program in December 2009 to recognize local governments across Texas that are striving to meet a high standard for financial transparency online. The “Gold” Award highlights those entities that are setting the bar with their transparency efforts.
County Judge Robert Hebert stated, “Government works best when its work is done in full view of those it serves. Using the Internet we now televise Commissioners Court meetings, post our annual budgets, monthly disbursement reports and annual audit reports for all to see. We’re proud of the recognition for the county, but we see transparency as an obligation rather than an option.”
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