7/29/2010
By Kerry Lester
A local think-tank is using unannounced audits to attempt to create more transparency on suburban government websites.
While some entities have used the information to better communicate with residents, others are still digesting how to use the data, if at all, a report shows.
The Chicago-based Illinois Policy institute this spring began conducting "online transparency audits" of the websites of government entities within Palatine, Hanover, Schaumburg, Barrington and New Trier township boundaries - a total of 69 different municipalities, park districts, school boards, and library districts.
Institute Director of Outreach Brian Costin, who lives within Hanover Township boundaries, said townships were selected based on where institute staff lived.
Each piece of township government had its website quietly evaluated and scored on 10 criteria - including the online availability of officials' contact information, public records, budgets, financial audits, taxes, salaries and benefits.
Between May 24 and June 2, Costin said, institute staff contacted each entity for the first time after its audit was completed to talk about the score - and ways it could be improved upon before a second audit was conducted six weeks later.
Second audit results were encouraging in some cases, Costin said, but disappointing in others.P
"Some were willing to work with us on it. Others ignored it," he said. "But when people decided they wanted to do transparency, we found they rapidly, rapidly achieved higher scores."
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