DEFINITIONSTransparency in Government:
Transparency in government represents clarity, sharing information and acting in an open manner. As a core principle of good urban governance, transparency connotes the conduct of public business in a manner that affords stakeholders wide accessibility to the decision making process and the ability to effectively influence it. A transparency system in government makes complete, accurate and timely information available to stakeholders, has clear procedures for decision making, and facilitates open communication between stakeholders and decision makers.
Reliability in Government:
Stakeholders rely on the government to make decisions consistent with the public interest, while complying with laws, rules and other policies and to identify deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could result in violation of laws, regulations, provision of contracts or grant agreements, fraud, or abuse. Such internal control over reliability mean that there are policies, procedures, and practices that the City has implemented to provide reasonable assurance that operational and financial information used for decision making and reporting, both externally and internally, is reliable and fairly disclosed in reports.
Accountability in Government:
The concept of accountability for use of public resources and government authority is essential to our City’s governing processes. Government officials entrusted with public resources are responsible for carrying out public functions legally, effectively, efficiently, economically, ethically, and equitably.
Government managers are responsible for providing reliable, useful, and timely information for accountability of government programs and their operations. Legislators, government officials, and the public need to know whether (1) government manages public resources and uses its authority properly and in compliance with laws and regulations; (2) government programs are achieving their objectives and desired outcomes; (3) government services are provided effectively, efficiently, economically, ethically, and equitably; and (4) government managers are held accountable for their use of public resources.
UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) and Transparency International. Tools to support Transparency in local governance. Transparency International. .
Comptroller General of the United States. Government Auditing Standard July 2007 Revision. United States Government Accountability Office
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