Residents and Business owners of Columbus: The Columbus Town Council believes in keeping citizens informed and up-to-date. The Council strives to be responsive and to maintain positive relationships with those we serve.
The term “transparency” has been in vogue for quite some time. As the term relates to openness and accessibility of information in government, it is a desirable goal and one endorsed by the administration of the Town of Columbus.
The Town has been proactive in making information accessible to citizens. We have always been willing to provide information requested by residents. The Town Hall and my office have an open door policy, and we encourage anyone to come in with questions about any aspect of Town government.
We have increasingly used the Town’s website to post information, such as the budget, audit reports, the comprehensive annual financial report and Town Council minutes. The Town also communicates with the public through press releases, public notices, the Town Hall bulletin board, e-mails and newsletters.
The John Locke Foundation, a Raleigh think tank and government watchdog, has rightly identified that in the age of the Internet and digital technology, citizens have an increased expectation for transparency in government. Transparency includes the concept of ease of access to information wanted by citizens.
To that end, the John Locke Foundation has created a web site, NCTransparency.com, which “… connects citizens to important information available online about state agencies, counties, school systems and municipalities”. The Locke Foundation also lists a number of baseline documents and reports, which should be available citizens, and provides a grade for government entities, based on the amount of information provided and the ease of accessibility.
Recommended baseline documents for municipalities include: checkbook – payments to vendors for specific items, by date, to track spending; budget – spending and tax plan for the fiscal year; annual financial information report – a revenue and spending report required of each municipality by the State Treasurer’s Office; comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) – an audited financial statement, completed at end of each fiscal year; contracts – any contracts with a vendor for current or future sales or service; future liability for retirees (health and pension) – Columbus does not pay benefits once an employee leaves service; health expenses – short-term financial status of local government health benefit plan; capital improvement plan (CIP) – land, buildings, and capital equipment the town plans to purchase, their cost and the timing of purchases; transportation improvement plan – roads, bridges, and other transportation options the town plans to build or purchase, cost, and timing; number of employees and their salaries; audit reports – outside audits of a town; revenue reports – tax revenues collected; and incentives provided to businesses and their value; The complete list of recommended documents can be seen on the transparency website.
While the foundation is not a governing entity, it is a leader in guiding governments toward greater transparency. The Foundation has currently assigned a grade of “D” to the Town of Columbus. I have contacted the Foundation for their recommendations, and we will be working toward increasing accessibility to Town documents and reports.
One project recommended by the Foundation is to make materials posted on our website “Google searchable.” We have already initiated work on this project and have allocated $300-$500 to achieve this capability. We will also be posting Town salaries and the Capital Improvement Plan on the website.
In the next 30 to 60 days, we will again contact the Locke Foundation to review our score. The Town welcomes your thoughts on how we can increase transparency for our residents.
The Columbus Town Council meets the third Thursday of every month at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers at 95 Walker Street. You are welcome to attend the meetings and let your voice be heard. The Council is always open to comments and suggestions. You can also keep abreast of Town events by visiting our website at www.columbusnc.com.
