TITLE: Congratulating the City of McKinney for earning five stars for its transparency program from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

SUMMARY: Congratulating the City of McKinney for earning five stars for its transparency program from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The City of McKinney has earned great distinction by becoming the first city in Texas to receive five stars from the Texas Comptroller's office for its financial transparency efforts; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts initiated the Transparency Stars program, which recognizes local governments that provide taxpayers with easy access to financial data and the tools to analyze it; McKinney has earned stars in all five areas: traditional finances, contracts and procurement, economic development, public pensions, and debt obligations; and WHEREAS, The City of McKinney's website offers detailed information about revenues, expenditures, and taxes, including easy-to-read graphs detailing the city's finances and financial responsibilities over time; the city has also created a transparency page that provides area residents with a wide range of information about their government beyond fiscal data; and WHEREAS, The county seat of Collin County, McKinney is one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, and in 2014 it was rated the best place to live in America by Money magazine; this dynamic community boasts award-winning schools, a lively historic downtown, a thriving economy, and great natural beauty; and WHEREAS, The citizens of our state and nation benefit greatly from open government, and the City of McKinney may indeed take great pride in its outstanding efforts to provide its taxpayers with the information they need to participate in the decisions that affect them and their families; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the City of McKinney for receiving five stars from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts for its transparency program and extend to the city's elected officials and employees sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the City of McKinney as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Sanford Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1540 was adopted by the House on May 4, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House