As a resident working for a safer community, I submitted many FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests to my local government. My frustration with the elected officials lack of compliance with the law partially led me to run for office. If nothing else, the strong belief that government information belongs to the public has stuck with me in my new role as an elected official.
Commissioner Wesley Prater and I have brought a transparency initiative to Washtenaw County this year. We were inspired by commissioners from Colorado that we met at a national conference. (Each time I spend taxpayer dollars to attend a conference, I try to bring home something tangible that will benefit the residents of Washtenaw County.)
Transparency is not just a local issue. A Federal directive was passed down to state and local governments soon after President Obama took office. We share the opinion that data sets of local governments should be easily accessible to the pubic.
“We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in government.”
-President Obama
January 21, 2009
Here is a link to more information from the White House: Transparency and Open Government
It is important to note that Washtenaw County is already transparent in so many areas. The ewashtenaw.org web site has information on the budget, audits, vendors, taxes and more. However, we can do more. Our goal in Washtenaw is to have our first data set, including the check register, online by September. Please let me know what information you would like to be able to find on a transparency site for your county government. This is an example of one of my favorite government transparency sites to help you see what is possible: Open.Palmbayflorida.org.
kristinjudge
