FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE:
April 29, 2010
(El Paso, Texas) The Texas Comptroller today notified El Paso County that it was recognized for achieving GOLD status in its Leadership Circle Award Program by scoring 15 of fifteen possible points on the State’s ratings criteria to make state government more transparent and efficient.
In December 2009, the Comptroller of Public Accounts launched the Texas Comptroller Leadership Circle program to recognize local governments across Texas who strive and meet a high standard for financial transparency online. The Comptroller is spotlighting those local governments that are:
•Opening their books to the public
•Providing clear, consistent pictures of spending
•Sharing information in a user-friendly format that lets taxpayers easily drill down for more information.
The State Comptroller developed a self-scoring process which is verified by its Local Government Assistance Division.
The Comptroller then awards Leadership Circle designees with a certificate reflecting their Circle Award level: Gold, Silver or Bronze.
"Gold" highlights those entities that are setting the bar in their transparency efforts.
"Silver" encourages those who are making progress. "Bronze" inspires those who are just beginning their transparency efforts.
Financial transparency is an ongoing goal for any government entity and the Comptroller recognized those that have opened their books to the public in order to provide clear pictures of spending and share information in a user-friendly format that lets taxpayers easily drill down for more information.
Including El Paso County, The Texas Comptroller’s webpage reflected only 6.69 percent or 17 out of 254 counties in Texas had achieved Gold Status to include Burnet, Coleman, Collin, Coryell, Dallam, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Bend, Guadalupe, Harris, Hidalgo, Kerr, Lubbock, Parker, Polk, Smith, Tom Green and Williamson.
Looking ahead to increasing efficiencies in government and greater financial transparency, we encourage and challenge our colleagues in other counties throughout this state to continue their efforts and follow the Texas Comptroller’s Leadership for greater Transparency in Texas. El Paso County’s transparency link can be found at www.epcounty.com.