Transparency International Slovakia’s (TIS) Open Local Government 2012 assesses transparency, information value and amount of pro-actively provided information to citizens; quality of the anti-corruption measures, and openness towards citizens when they request information. The survey evaluated top 100 largest municipalities in Slovakia based on the following sources:
- Quality of information on the municipal website (57% of the score weight)
- Replies to Freedom of Information Act (211/2000) requests solicited by TIS (22,5%)
- Replies to Freedom of Information Act (211/2000) requests solicited unofficially by TIS – through third person (17,5%)
- Data form Public Procurement Office website (3%)
POLICY AREAS ASSESED
Municipalities have been assessed and ranked in 11 areas and 111 indicators. Areas assessed cover powers and duties legally vested with municipalities (e.g. public property sales and leasing) as well as policy areas deemed important by TIS for good and ethical governance (e.g. ethics, conflict of interests). Out of the areas selected, access to information, public participation, and public procurement were considered as the most important (see policy areas’ score weights below). For the greater part the survey assessed a presence of a given transparency tool (e.g. Do you use e-auctions? Yes/No). Results rendered are based on publicly accessible, easily measurable and verifiable data. Maximum score for a municipality including all areas was 100 points.
More detailed information on the areas, including recommendations and the specific questions asked, can be found in their respective web sections. You can also download the sheet with questions and answers of the municipalities.
The assessment was carried out from September to November 2012.
RANKING AND GRADES
Overall ranking of a municipality ranges from 0 % (worst) to 100 % (best). Rankings for individual policy areas are included along the total score. For a quicker comparison, municipalities have been graded as in school, according to the following scale:
|
Grade |
% |
| A+ | 80-100 |
| A | 75-79 |
| A- | 70-74 |
| B+ | 65-69 |
| B | 60-64 |
| B- | 55-59 |
| C+ | 50-54 |
| C | 45-49 |
| C- | 40-44 |
| D+ | 35-39 |
| D | 30-34 |
| D- | 25-29 |
| E+ | 20-24 |
| E | 15-19 |
| E- | 10-14 |
| F | 0-9 |
Open Local Government 2012 ranking is an indicator of municipal openness. Although the ranking does not measure corruption, TIS holds that higher score in the ranking and more transparent towns and cities provide fewer opportunities for corrupt behaviour. However, it cannot be ruled out that municipalities high up in the ranking are not corrupt and vice versa. Municipalities interested in obtaining more specific data and a more complete picture of their administration should consider TIS’ Transparent town audit. At the time of writing, Martin, Prievidza, Žiar nad Hronom, and Bratislava-Ružinov have already been audited.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Open Self Government 2012 is sponsored by Open Society Institute, UNDP, and Embassy of the United States to whom we express our gratitude. TIS also thanks UzemnePlany.sk for assistance with assessing land-use plans.
If you like this project, please consider financial donation, share this page with your friends, or become our fan on Facebook.
Authors’ remark:
Local governments, their elected and appointed representatives and employees should see the Open Local Government 2012 ranking both as an appreciation of good work as well as motivation to improve their efforts to act in transparent manner and provide quality information. These efforts should be seen as a significant contribution to local economic development and quality of life improvement of their citizens.
TIS plans to continue updating the ranking on a regular basis.
Contact:
Tomáš Jacko jacko@transparency.sk
Gabriel Šípoš sipos@transparency.sk
