The gist
Transparency Trailblazer is the highest award in the Comptroller’s Transparency Stars program that honors local governments for making government data easily accessible.
The comptroller’s office also gives transparency awards for six different categories:
- Traditional finances
- Contracts and procurement
- Economic development
- Public pensions
- Debt obligations
- Open government and compliance
McKinney was the first city in Texas to earn all five awards in 2017, and earned all six in 2024 when the comptroller's office added a sixth category, open government and compliance, that same year.
“Our financial data must be not only available to the public but also includes data, graphs and figures residents can view to get a fuller picture of how finances are managed," City Manager Paul Grimes said in the release.
The city has government data on public pensions, debt, economic development, finances, contracts, and open government on its website. Several other reports and employee contracts are also available on the city’s website.
Quote of note
"Texans deserve transparency in how their tax dollars are being spent, and I am proud to honor the city of McKinney, which has gone the extra mile in opening its books to the public,” Hegar said in a public statement. "Democracy can't survive and thrive unless citizens have the information they need to make informed decisions at the voting booth and to hold those they elect accountable for their actions."
