NTMWD Receives Recognition for Transparency Efforts from Texas Comptroller

User-friendly information available online meets high standard of fiscal transparency

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) is the latest local government entity to achieve specific transparency goals through the Comptroller’s Transparency Stars program. NTMWD received a star in the area of Traditional Finances, which recognizes entities for their outstanding efforts in making their spending and revenue information available.

“By providing meaningful financial data in addition to visual tools and analysis of its revenues and expenditures, NTMWD has shown a true commitment to Texas taxpayers. This effort achieves the goals set by my office’s Transparency Stars program,” Hegar said.

The Texas Transparency Stars program encourages greater access to information and emphasizes that information be straightforward and allow for users to easily perform basic analysis on the data.

“By providing greater transparency through easy online access to detailed financial data, NTMWD continues to build on its commitment to strong stewardship for our region,” said Rodney Rhoades, NTMWD Interim Executive Director. “When communities are able to understand and analyze this important information, it further underscores our dedication to rigorous financial management.”

NTMWD combines numerous financial documents with visualizations, summaries, downloadable data and other helpful information into a single online location – NTMWD.com/Financial-Transparency. This concentration of data includes budgets, expenditures and revenue charts, comprehensive annual financial reports, check registers, strategic financial plans and links to archived data.

Traditional Finances, which encompasses all the activities most governments undertake, is the first transparency star received by NTMWD. It is considered a foundational step, and all entities have to meet the requirements for this first star before applying for the other four which include contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions and debt obligations. After achieving this first star, remaining stars may be awarded in any order.

NTMWD will expand upon this initial effort to include greater online access to the resources required in these other areas.


About Texas Comptroller’s Transparency Stars program

The Comptroller’s office launched the Transparency Stars program in March 2016 to recognize cities, counties and school districts making important strides to greater government transparency. Transparency Stars recognizes local government entities that provide easy online access to important financial data. Local government entities can apply for stars in the areas of Traditional Finances, Contracts and Procurement, Economic Development, Public Pensions, and Debt Obligations. For more information on the program, including specific guidelines and information on how to apply, visit the Comptroller’s Transparency Stars website.