Oklahoma Counties Fail Web Site Transparency Test

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- Most Oklahoma county government web sites received a failing grade when it comes to transparency according to the web site Sunshine Review.

According to a news release, each Oklahoma county was evaluated against a 10-point transparency checklist and issued a grade to determine how open and honest they are with the public they serve.

The checklist, developed by Sunshine Review, requires information regarding budgets, meetings, elected and administrative officials, permits and zoning, audits, contracts, lobbying, public records and taxes be made easily accessible online.

According to the Sunshine Review findings, the most transparent county is Oklahoma County which received a B-minus.

Beaver County and Tulsa County each received a C-minus, meeting five points on the checklist.

The most revealing finding by the Sunshine Review community is that fifty seven counties in Oklahoma do not have a website, bringing the total number of counties failing to be open and honest with the public to 69.

"The Sunshine Review community believes every county in the nation has a responsibility to make basic information easily available to the taxpayer," said Kristin McMurray, managing editor of Sunshine Review. "We urge Oklahoma citizens to use the results of these evaluations to push for reform in their counties."

Go to the Sunshine Review Evaluation of Oklahoma county websites page to see how open and honest your county is compared to all other Oklahoma counties.