Transparency Dashboard

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Oakland County has recently committed itself to transparency and citizen engagement with the launch of their new Transparency Dashboard portal. The Transparency Dashboard is a central information point to all of the public transparency and accountability resources on the County’s web site. Oakland County shares fiscal management details, including its unique three-year budget process which has facilitated a balanced budget for fiscal years through 2015 on the website. Major initiatives such as the Economic Growth Alliance, Emerging Sectors, Jobs and Workforce Development, Green Infrastructure, Community & Home Improvement and resources for Small Business are also covered. Detailed monthly financial/budget reports are accessible via the Dashboard, along with the County’s Purchasing Division vendor contracts, enabling taxpayers to track County government spending. The Dashboard reports on energy-saving measures implemented by the County, which have saved or avoided more than $4 million in utility bills since 2005. Accessibility of information provided via the Transparency Dashboard portal is enhanced through the availability of an audio version of page content. The audio version of Dashboard content benefits site visitors who experience visual impairments, dyslexia and literacy issues. In these ways, Oakland County’s Transparency Dashboard goes far beyond the financial transparency mandated for local governments by the State of Michigan.