Transparency International Slovakia’s (TIS) Open Local Government 2010 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 (50% of the score weight)
- Replies to Freedom of Information Act (211/2000) requests solicited by TIS (36%)
- Replies to Freedom of Information Act (211/2000) requests solicited unofficially by TIS – through third person (14%)
POLICY AREAS ASSESED
Municipalities have been assessed and ranked in 11 areas. 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.
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 2010 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 has already been audited, and audits are under way in Prievidza and Žiar nad Hronom.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Open Self Government 2010 is sponsored by Open Society Institute and Západoslovenská energetika to whom we express our gratitude.
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Authors’ remark:
Local governments, their elected and appointed representatives and employees should see the Open Local Government 2010 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 update the ranking on a regular basis.
Contact:
Tomáš Jacko jacko@transparency.sk
Gabriel Šípoš sipos@transparency.sk
Ivan Rončák roncak@transparency.sk