Published: November 09, 2009 08:38 am      

COunty achieves transparency recommendations

WEATHERFORD — Parker County is one of only 12 counties in the State of Texas to meet the recommendations set out by Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs regarding transparency in government, according to the comptroller’s Web site, www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/checkup/counties.php.

Parker County’s Web site, www.co.parker.tx.us, contains not only the current county budget, but also a link to the county’s certified annual financial report along with the county’s searchable check register, also known as a Department Payment Register, which shows where and how the taxpayer dollars are spent. These are all requirements for meeting the comptroller’s transparency recommendations.

“It is important that citizens have the opportunity to access government documents in the most efficient way possible,” Parker County Judge Mark Riley said. “It is especially important for the taxpayer to have easy access to financial records.”

Riley, like Combs, believes that technology and the internet in particular have paved the way for government, both big and small, to give the public access to how it operates.

“Citizens have an absolute right to know how their local tax dollars are being spent,” Combs said. “But transparency is not only about making local governments more accountable to citizens; it is equally about making local governments stronger and better. As we learned by posting state expenditures online, if you know what you’re spending, you know how to spend better. I commend Parker County government for being more transparent and efficient.”

Combs has made government transparency a priority during her tenure as Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

She said it was her determination that a government entity is meeting a high standard for transparency if it opens its books to the public, providing clear, consistent pictures of spending, provides information in an easily accessible, user-friendly format and lets taxpayers easily drill down for more detailed information.

“We are proud to be one of only 12 counties across the state meeting this high standard of government accountability,” Riley said. “It is a practice we have always believed in and with today’s technology it is easy to accomplish the goal. I think Comptroller Combs is doing an excellent job in leading our state and local governments on this issue.”

Riley also extended his appreciation to Parker County Auditor Mike Rhoten for his assistance in providing Parker County residents the financial information.

Rhoten said he was thrilled that Parker County was one of the first Texas counties to have such a high level of transparency.

“Parker County has made more information online and available to the Parker County citizens in a timely manner,” Rhoten said. “By providing the information online this will foster a better and more complete understanding by the public of how Parker County government functions.”