Texas Cities in the Era of Government Transparency

Abstract

We are in the Era of Government Transparency. Recently, politicians from President Barack Obama to Texas Governor Rick Perry have touted a commitment to openness and transparency in their respective administrations. Citizens have also embraced the idea. No longer content with viewing the government as a mysterious black box where taxes go in and services come out, taxpayers today expect, and in some cases demand, to know how decisions are made. As discussions ensue about growing distrust between citizens and government, increased transparency can offer a way to bridge this divide. Clear, organized and useful data posted online is a good indicator of a city’s transparency. It is best for city governments to engage their citizens in a dialogue about what information the public wants and what format will encourage them to best use it.