Last week, the Sunshine Review, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to government transparency, announced  St. Charles Parish as one of 250 winners of its fourth annual ‘Sunny Awards,’ which honor the most transparent government websites nationwide.
For the 2013 awards, editors at Sunshine Review analyzed more than 1,000 qualifying government websites and graded each on a 10-point transparency checklist. Editors looked at content available on government websites against what should be provided. They sought information on items such as budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, public records and taxes. The winners of the Sunny Award all received an “A” grade during the extensive grading process.
“St. Charles Parish government knows the importance of promoting transparency in everything we do,” St. Charles Parish President V.J. St. Pierre said. “We are honored to receive a Sunny Award and will continue to empower citizens by providing the necessary information to keep them informed on the actions their government is taking on their behalf.”
“The Sunny Awards recognize governments that make transparency a priority. The winners of the Sunny Awards are cities, counties and school districts that proactively share the public information that empowers citizens and keeps government accountable to the people,” Michael Barnhart, president of Sunshine Review, said. “We would like to congratulate St. Charles Parish for being a champion for transparency and serving as a leader to every state and local government around the nation.”
Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local government transparency. Sunshine Review collaborates with individuals and organizations throughout America in the cause of an informed citizenry and a transparent government. Since its inception in 2008, Sunshine Review has analyzed the websites of all 50 states and more than 7,000 state and local entities.