Texas Comptroller Program Named As Finalist In Harvard Competition

Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Program Named Semifinalist in Harvard’s 2017 Innovations in American Government Awards Competition

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AUSTIN — The Texas Comptroller’s office was recently named a semifinalist in a national government awards competition that recognizes efforts to improve services, solve problems and work on behalf of citizens.

The Comptroller’s transparency program, which publishes a variety of reports and online tools to help taxpayers understand complex state and local government data, was recognized by Harvard University as one of the top 100 programs in its Innovations in American Government Awards competition.

Ten finalists will be named in March, with a grand-prize winner announcement expected in June.

“I’m proud of the work our office has done to promote transparency and ensure Texans everywhere have the information they need to understand state and local government spending,” Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.

The Comptroller’s transparency program was selected from a pool of more than 500 applications from all 50 states, and was one of six semifinalists from Texas.

Started in 2007, the Comptroller’s transparency program offers a centralized, user-friendly website providing comprehensive data on public finances for local governments.

“These programs demonstrate that there are no prerequisites for doing the good work of governing,” said Stephen Goldsmith, director of Harvard University’s Innovations in American Government Program.

“Small towns and massive cities, huge federal agencies and local school districts, large budgets or no budgets at all — what makes government work best is the drive to do better, and this group proves that drive can be found anywhere,” continued Goldsmith.

Visit the Government Innovators Network website for the full list of semifinalists and for more information regarding the Innovations in American Government Awards.