Want to Work Together? Open Up the Books!

Over the past year, in nearly every state across our country, newspapers have been filled with stories of state legislatures and town committees trying to work their budgets out of the red.

These times of fiscal crisis can be opportunities for us all to work together to rebuild healthy, safe, and appropriately-funded state and local communities, but we can only be effective in these efforts if all involved have access to the necessary budget and revenue information.

Brockton community members have demonstrated their agreement as evidenced by at least two school committee members refusing to meet secretly with their Superintendent, and by the recent opinion piece on in The Enterprise regarding secret school committee meetings surrounding a potential layoff of hundreds of staff:

"As we face a serious financial crisis, the superintendent needs to lead openly, strongly and decisively. He can dispel any questions about his abilities to steer Brockton's system to even higher academic achievements if parents and citizens are certain of his strength and clear thinking under pressure.

But no one can support what they can't see or hear... [more]

We urge Malone to embrace public discourse over private consultations that raise the impression of deal-making or secret sessions.  

All School Committee members should also decline to discuss the public's business in private as well. They are the elected representatives of Brockton's citizens. Making decisions (or plans for decisions) that affect thousands of children and tens of thousands of city and state taxpayers in any forum but the most open and transparent is not in the public interest.

This funding crisis is an opportunity for the community to come together to face a common challenge.  The city's elected and appointed officials, parents and taxpayers can and should work collaboratively for the benefit of the children and the future of the city."

Our ally, Common Cause Massachusetts, promotes this type of local transparency each year with e-Government Awards, honoring towns and cities in Massachusetts that have made government more accessible via the Internet.

And transparency is equally important at the state level - no one feels comfortable funding agencies and organizations not knowing where that money is coming from or how it is being spent. That is why we have worked with MASSPIRG to urge members of our Senate to support government spending transparency measures, including tax credits in the FY 2011 Ways and Means Budget, and why MASSPIRG's recent report lays out a need for greater disclosure by our quasi-public agencies. 

But transparency is only as good as the people who are looking at the information. That is why our network is working to with fellow nonprofits and community organizations to compile and distribute thoughtful, public analysis of our government processes and budgets. 

In addition, we are currently building community trainings, so that all of our friends and neighbors have the tools they need to access and put to use all available information in building the type of cities and towns we all want and need.