City receives honor after more than a decade of high-performance with transparency initiative.
From left, Mayor Pro Tem Arefin Shamsul, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, Mayor Bob Dubey, City Manager Don Magner
The Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts today recognized Richardson as a recipient of the inaugural Transparency Trailblazer Award, a special honor for local governments across Texas that consistently achieve top recognition in the Comptroller’s Transparency Star program.
First created in 2016, the Transparency Stars program recognizes local governments for going above and beyond in their transparency efforts across a variety of areas, including traditional finances, contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, debt obligations, and open government and compliance.
“Transparency is a fundamental tenet of local government. It ensures accountability, fosters public trust, and allows everyone to engage in our community,” said Mayor Bob Dubey. “That’s why we are honored to receive the Texas Comptroller’s Trailblazer Award recognizing our history of going above and beyond basic requirements by setting new standards through the use of creative approaches, such as leveraging technology for open data, increasing accessibility of public records, and enhancing community participation beyond legal requirements.”
City’s Transparency History
The City’s commitment to transparency dates back to 2007, when the City Council began posting meeting agenda documents online. In December 2009, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts launched the Leadership Circle program to recognize local governments across Texas that demonstrated a high standard of financial transparency online.
The program highlighted governments that:
- Opened their books to the public
- Provided clear, consistent depictions of spending
- Shared information in a user-friendly format, allowing taxpayers to easily explore details
Richardson launched its formal Transparency Page in 2010, exceeding the program’s requirements and earning the highest level of recognition possible each year of the Leadership Circle program. Since the Transparency Stars program began in 2017, the City has consistently maintained 5-star recognition, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to openness and accountability.
“I want to thank the Comptroller for this distinguished, first-time award,” said City Manager Don Magner. “I also want to acknowledge the many City employees from multiple departments whose contributions have helped us earn and maintain Transparency Stars recognition over the years, culminating in this special honor. Richardson residents can be proud of the City staff’s ongoing dedication and commitment to accountability and transparency.”
Transparency Benchmark
With the Trailblazer Award, Richardson is now recognized as one of fewer than 20 local entities statewide to have consistently achieved top transparency marks over the past decade in the state’s latest transparency recognition program.
Commitment to Transparency
The City Council’s Statement of Goals outlines the vision, goals and strategies for the City of Richardson, establishing a foundation of principles to support the community’s continued prosperity. Among these strategies, the Council emphasizes the importance of clear, easy-to-understand processes and policies that facilitate seamless interaction between residents and the City.
Accountability and financial transparency are hallmarks of a well-run government, which is why the Council has made government transparency a top priority.
Transparency Milestones
- July 2007 – Richardson begins posting agenda documents online
- August 2009 – City begins live-streaming Council meetings on its website
- October 2010 – Transparency Page is formalized, providing centralized access to Council information, Budget, and the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), earning the City the highest ranking of the Texas Comptroller transparency program
- November 2011 – Council begins posting handouts online before meetings
- March 2012 – Live-streaming of City Plan Commission meetings added to the website
- March 2016 – Texas Comptroller releases the Transparency Stars program with the ability to earn up to 5 stars in the following areas – Traditional Finances, Debt Obligations, Public Pensions, Contracts and Procurement, and Economic Development
- June 2017 – Texas Comptroller awards Richardson all five possible Transparency Star awards
- March 2025 – Texas Comptroller presents Richardson with the Transparency Trailblazer Award
Highlights of Richardson’s Transparency Pages:
Traditional Finances
- Budget Information
- Interactive Disbursements Database
- Financial and Investment Policies and Reports
- Tax Information
- Pay Plan and Salary Information
- Council Member Listing
- Report for Compliance with SB 1221, Texas Legislative Session 85(R)
- Report for Compliance with HB 3693, Texas Legislative Session 80(R)
- Open Records Request Information and Form
- Unclaimed Property Listing
Debt Obligations
Notice of Intent to Issue Certificates of Obligation
- Historical Bond Election Information
- Debt Excerpts from Approved Budgets
- Report for Compliance with HB 1378, Texas Legislative Session 84(R)
- Downloadable Data
- Issue-by-Issue Listing of Outstanding Debt
Public Pensions
- Downloadable Data
- Actuarial Valuations
- TMRS Comprehensive Reports
- TMRS Rate Letters
Contracts and Procurement
- Current Fiscal Year Publicly Posted Bids
- Prior Years’ Bidding Opportunities and Closed Solicitations
- Link to Online Vendor Bidding System
- Information on How to Do Business with the City
- Conflict of Interest Information and Completed Forms
Economic Development
- Summary Information on Home Improvement Incentive Program, Tax Abatement, Chapter 380, and TIF Economic Development Incentives
- TIF District Reports
- TIF Project Plans
- Copies of Active Incentive Agreements
The City’s transparency initiative page is available at www.cor.net/Transparency.
About Richardson Texas
The City of Richardson is a city proudly built by engineers and entrepreneurs with a history of technological leadership and a bright future fostering the next generation of innovation. Repeatedly named one of the best cities in America to live, work, and start a family, the City of Richardson offers a high quality of life, a diverse array of neighborhoods, excellent schools, convenient Metroplex location, multi-modal transportation infrastructure, and outstanding City services. The City remains dedicated to continuous improvement, as well as to the principles of open government and two-way communication with residents.
