Nonprofit Awards County for Transparency on Website
Carroll County government was one of 247 state and local governments and school systems that received "Sunny Awards."
A nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency recently awarded Carroll County government for having a transparent website.
Founded in 2008, Sunshine Review is a nonprofit located in Arlington, VA that, according to its website, is dedicated to state and local government transparency.
The Sunny Awards recognize governments that make transparency a priority, according to a news release.
"The winners of the Sunny Awards are cities, counties and school districts that proactively share the public information that empowers citizens and keeps government accountable to the people,” said Michael Barnhart, president of Sunshine Review in a statement.
For the 2013 awards, editors at Sunshine Review analyzed more than 1,000 qualifying government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist. They sought information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, academic performance, public records and taxes, according to the website.
Eight states earned nearly half of the 247 Sunny Awards given. Carroll County earned an A- and was one of eight Maryland organizations awarded. Other local governments awarded include Gaithersburg, Allegany County, Frederick, Garrett County and Rockville.
WatchingInMtAiry
6:34 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
I'm glad the county employees that run the website are getting recognized. It is well deserved. I think the commissioners could learn a lesson from the web developers and staff that provide the content.
From the Sunny Review's analysis of Carroll County Government, "Despite earning high marks for having a transparent website, journalists with the Carroll County Times reported county officials are not as forthcoming with records as they could be. Since December 2010 there have been five open meetings compliance complaints filed against the board, with the board found in contempt of the act twice."
Judith M. Smith
9:43 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Thanks Watching...the fact that the review gave good marks was only applicable to having the website available...not the content ON the sites, or the behavior of the local government. A withdrawal of the award is pending...and should get the publicity that it deserves in illustrating just how absurd our "open" government is in reality.
Voice of Reason
10:30 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
How can the county website be transparent when the county government isn't?
Judith M. Smith
10:53 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Precisely...