Update: The Village of Orland Park Scores 100%!
by Mark Cavers The Village of Orland Park scored a perfect 100% on a local government transparency audit conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute last week. Under the proactive leadership of Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Trustee Jim Dodge, Village Manager Paul Grimes, Deputy Clerk Joe La Margo and Senior Secretary Nancy Melinauskas, the Village of Orland Park became the first...
by Mark Cavers
The Village of Orland Park scored a perfect 100% on a local government transparency audit conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute last week. Under the proactive leadership of Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Trustee Jim Dodge, Village Manager Paul Grimes, Deputy Clerk Joe La Margo and Senior Secretary Nancy Melinauskas, the Village of Orland Park became the first government body ever to get a perfect score. Even more impressive, Orland Park went above and beyond our suggestions with their commitment to transparency.
On September 6th, we presented the Village of Orland Park with the first award for achieving a perfect 100% score on our local transparency test! Pictured from left to right are Orland Park Village Trustee Jim Dodge, our Director of Outreach Brian Costin, and Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.
?The Illinois Policy Institute promotes transparency and accountability as a first step towards good and effective government. As a part of this we’ve created a “Ten Point Transparency Checklist.” A tool that the Institute uses to partner with local government units, grade the governments and then help them become more transparent. The Checklist represents essential items that government entities should have on their websites so citizens have access to crucial information. Items include:
1. Elected & Administrative Officials: Contact Information
2. Meeting Information: Calendar (Future) Minutes & Board Packets (Past)
3. Public records: FOIA submission & FOIA Officer Contact Information
4. Budgets: General Fund and Special Projects
5. Financial Audits: Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports
6. Expenditures: Checkbook Register and Credit Card Receipts
7. Salary & Benefits: Wages, Salary, Overtime, Health, Dental, Life, Pension, etc.
8. Contracts: Union, Private Contractors, Vendors
9. Lobbying: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Associations
10. Taxes & Fees: Sales, Property, Income, and Miscellaneous Taxes, Fees.
By posting each of these items on their website the Village of Orland Park received a perfect 100% on our transparency audit. On the Village’s website individuals can quickly find the “Citizen Information Center” which serves as an easy to navigate hub that connects to each of the above items and more. Whether you want to know how much the Mayor is paid, what was discussed at a board meeting in 2008 or how much a Class A Liquor License costs, it is all there.
The Illinois Policy Institute congratulates the Village of Orland Park and recognizes it as a true leader in transparency. Orland Park sets the bar and provides an instructive example for other governments that are committed to transparency.