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« Legislative News Transparency: An Ongoing Issue for Counties
By Aurora Flores-Ortiz
TAC Legislative Staff
Transparency fast became a buzz word during the 81st Legislative Session and continues to gain momentum during the interim as committees hold  public hearings on the subject.
During 2009, Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) filed HB 2743, which mandated that counties with a population of 250,000 or more maintain the transaction register for the county's checking account in a readily available, searchable electronic spreadsheet format, such as a PDF or similar file type.
The legislation did not become law, but as a result of this bill and those like it, the issue has been brought to the public’s attention.
Last month, Texas Association of Counties Assistant Executive Director Rex Hall spoke during a panel discussion on Local Government Transparency hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
“Counties understand and embrace open government,” Hall said.
However, counties are now faced with the challenge of how to make that transparency obvious and available to the public online. Counties are working to provide expenditure information, but face financial and technological challenges.
Hall explained that several factors drive the cost of online transparency for counties. For example, some counties don’t have the software necessary for searchable formats, or personnel in the appropriate office to post complex information online. Questions also revolve around implementation: should an office scan the county’s check register or should the financial information be made available in raw, searchable data form? The latter process requires redaction and raises possible privacy issues.
“Redacting confidential information prior to posting, which is required by law, also results in additional costs,” Hall said.
Hall was joined in the panel discussion by Paxton and Bennett Sandlin, general counsel for the Texas Municipal League.
Paxton's comments reflected a commitment to expand traditional notions of open government. The representative expressed the idea that government should use the capability afforded by modern technology to make more information readily available to citizens.
Sandlin reported that an increasing number of city officials are taking steps to make more financial information available online. He attributed some of that progress to the Texas Comptroller’s Leadership Circle program, which encourages and acknowledges progress toward the goal of fiscal transparency. Local officials prefer this approach rather than the imposition of any additional costly legal requirements.
TAC, CPA to Offer Round Table Transparency Discussion
Currently, transparency incentives are voluntary and the Comptroller of Public Account’s office offers online recognition to local government for meeting certain standards of online transparency. During TAC’s Annual Conference, Sept. 1-3, 2010, the topic of online transparency will be discussed during a round table session lead by Victor Gonzalez, chief technology officer for the Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA).
Gonzalez testified at interim hearings explaining the CPA’s transparency initiative and the timeline of its efforts, which have resulted in annual recurring savings and increased efficiency for that agency. Round table participants will discuss the financial and technological challenges of placing county financial information online and other aspects of digital transparency. Much work remains to be done, but having open dialogue now about how to move toward cost-effective online transparency will be key to finding solutions prior to the 82nd Legislative Session.
Also joining the digital transparency discussion will be Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin. Hamlin will discuss how local government offices are making information accessible to their citizens online.
For additional information on this article, please contact TAC Legislative Staffer Aurora Flores Ortiz at (800) 456-5974 or aurorafo@county.org.
23 July 2010
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