FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Diana Rickert, Manager of Media Relations

Diana@IllinoisPolicy.org or 312-607-4977 



Feb. 10, 2011 — The Downers Grove Park District and villages of Downers Grove and Willowbrook scored the highest of 16 public agencies recently evaluated in a government transparency audit.

The audit was part of the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project and initiated by a local resident. Governments were graded on the availability of information to the public about: elected and administrative officials; public meetings; how to file a Freedom of Information Act request; budgets; expenditures; salaries and benefits; lobbying; and taxing levels.

The first audit was in November. Government agencies were then notified of their scores, and informed how they could improve their levels of transparency. A second audit, full details attached in excel, measuring improvement was compiled this week. Scores were as follows:

The Institute’s Director of Outreach, Brian Costin, applauded the governments that showed significant improvement.  

"Downers Grove Park District, Indian Prairie Library District, Downers Grove Library and the villages of Downers Grove, Hinsdale and Willowbrook all increased their individual transparency scores by more than 25 points,” Costin said. “They are setting an example on how to improve online transparency on the local level and we hope the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project continues to inspire even more improvements over the coming months and years."

For more information about the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project or to interview Costin, contact the Institute’s Manager of Media Relations Diana Rickert: Diana@IllinoisPolicy.org or 312-607-4977.

*The Village of Willowbrook requested a follow-up audit, and scored a 86.75 as of April 8th, 2011.