Illinois Policy Institute's Local Transparency Project Grading Rubric
A - 90% and
Above B - between
80% and 89.99% C - between
70% and 79.99% D - between
60% and 69.99% F - 59.99%
and lower
Out of a
possible 100 points.
1. Elected & Administrative Officials (10 points)
Sub Category: Elected Officials (4 points)
1 point for name of elected
officials
1.5 points for email or web
form to contact elected officials
1.5 points for phone
number to contact elected officials
Sub Category: Senior Elected Official (1 point)
.25 point for name of
elected official
.375 point for email
or web form of elected official
.375 point for phone
number of elected official
Sub Category: Administrators (4 points)
1 point for names of
administrators in each department
1.5 points for email
or web form to contact administrators
1.5 points for phone
number to administrators
Sub Category Senior
Administrator: (1 point)
.25 point for name of
senior administrator
.375 point for email
or web form of senior administrator
.375 point for phone
number of senior administrator
2. Meeting Information (10 points)
Sub Category: Future Meeting Calendar (2.5 points)
At least 1 year on regular
dates
Sub Category: Meeting Agendas (2.5 points)
Is the next meeting’s
agenda online or do they regularly post agenda’s online prior to meetings?
Sub Category: Meeting Board Packets (2.5 points)
.5 point per each of
last 5 years online.
Only 70% credit if
documents are not searchable
Sub Category: Meeting Minutes (2.5 points)
.5 point per each of
last 5 years online.
Only 70% credit if
documents are not searchable
3. Freedom of Information Act (10 Points)
Sub Category: Freedom of Information Act Page (7 points)
1 point for address
to submit FOIA
1.5 points for phone
number
1.5 points for email
or web form
1.5 point for FOIA
process response time
1.5 points for fee
disclosure
Sub Category: FOIA Officer (3 points)
1 point for name
1 point for phone
number
1 point for email or
web form
4. Budgets (10 Points)
2 points for each
year of last 5 years budget (detailed budget-no summary)
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
5. Financial Audits (10 Points)
2 points for each of
the last 5 years of comprehensive financial audit
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
6. Expenditures (10 Points)
Sub Category: 3rd Party Individual Expenditures/Check Register (5 points)
1 point for each of
the last 5 years
Only 50% credit if document isn't on own page (in board packet).
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
Sub Category: 3rd Party Annual Expenditures (5 points)
1 point for each of
the last 5 years
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
7. Salary & Benefits (10 Points)
Sub Category: Individual Employee Salary Compensation (5 points)
1 point for each of
the last 5 years
Only 50% credit if it
only includes ranges or salary bands
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
Sub Category: Individual Employee Benefit Compensation (5
points)
1 point for each of
the last 5 years
Only 50% credit if it
only includes ranges or salary bands
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
8. Contracts (10 Points)
Sub Category: Current Requests of Bids & Proposals, Over $25,000 (2.5 points)
1.5 points for
listing of open bids & proposals
1 point for
instructions on where & how to submit a bid or proposal
Sub Category: Approved Vendor Contracts, Over $25,000 (2.5 points)
.5 points for each of
the last 5 years in contracts
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
Sub Category: Employee
Contracts (5 points)
1 point per each of
the last 5 years for all employee or union contracts. If no contracts, then an employee handbook or similar document detailing wages, benefits, vacation, sick, leave policies, etc. is accepted.
Only 70% credit if
document isn’t searchable
9. Lobbying (10 Points)
Must disclose value
and purpose of each contract
Must disclose any
membership organizations they belong to that also engages in lobbying
2 points for each of
the last 5 years
10. Taxes (10 Points)
Must disclose the tax
rate for all major revenue sources (property, income, sales, etc.) on one central page
