Politics & Government
Orland Park Gets Perfect Score on Transparency Test
Illinois Policy Institute used a 10-point checklist that looked at the availability of public information.
The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) has named Orland Park the first government entity in the state to earn a perfect score in its “Local Transparency Project.”
Project leaders grade governments on the availability of public information, such as meeting schedules, government employee salaries and tax rates.
Since the project launched in February 2010, more than 130 government entities have been audited, Brian Costin, director of outreach at IPI, said, but only the village received a perfect score.
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IPI, a nonpartisan research group which describes itself as a leading voice for economic liberty and government accountability, uses a 10-point checklist in its audits.
That checklist includes information on elected and administrative officials; public meetings; Freedom of Information Act request; budgets; expenditures; salaries and benefits; lobbying; and taxing levels—all of which and more can be found on the village’s website in an area entitled the “Citizens Information Corner.”
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Costin said IPI initiates an audit only after they’re asked to by a local politician or citizen. In the case of Orland Park, he noted, project leaders had been contacted by Village Trustee and Mayor Pro Tem James Dodge.
Despite advances in technology, Costin said, “There’s a reluctance to put your toe in the water, or kind of expose yourself to getting potentially . So I think a lot of times elected officials, rather than laying their cards on the table, are very guarded and only put the minimum out there.”
He added, “I think that’s the wrong mentality. This is our government. The people own the government.”
Deputy village clerk Joe LaMargo said most of the information on IPI’s checklist had already been posted online
A member of the Orland School District 135 Board of Education, LaMargo’s recent suggestion that District 135 also look into the transparency project about the proper setting in which to discuss district contracts and other forms of public information.
In a prepared statement, Mayor Dan McLaughlin said, “It’s always nice to be recognized for positive actions taken, and I commend the Illinois Policy Institute for creating a format with achievable goals that any government agency can follow.”
