Citizens and elected officials at all levels are calling for increased transparency
in local government — and many government leaders are eager to answer
the call. Transparency benefits local governments and their communities in
many ways, from promoting deeper trust and citizen engagement to driving
economic growth. Budget constraints have stopped many local governments
from reaching for transparency — finding the right balance between the cost
of making government more open and the cost of public safety and essential
services can be difficult. But it doesn’t have to be that way.