Montgomery County is stepping up its game in the realm of governmental transparency and effectiveness, recently unveiling an investment of $1 million over the next three years to enhance its operations through OpenGov, a platform designed to make local government more open and accountable. Montgomery County aims to demonstrate to its residents precisely how their tax dollars are being used and how county decisions are made.
Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, asserted the County's commitment to a government that's modern and transparent, saying, "We've been clear in our commitment to modern, transparent, and accountable government since the moment we came into office." Makhija expressed confidence that this move would ensure that Montgomery County is not only working harder and thinking smarter but also embracing innovation at its core the new tools providing not only a window into the inner workings of local administration but also streamlining operations, according to a statement featured on the Montgomery County's official website.
The tech upgrade comes as part of the County's larger quest to remake its governmental engine, brought to life via the newly minted Office of Innovation, Strategy, and Performance. OpenGov is poised to offer a more robust system for tracking Montgomery County’s vital stats and holdings, while also simplifying the way it reports out to those it serves—making sure actions and policies are based on the most current information available.
Montgomery County has had success using OpenGov to create its budget and improve application processes. The additional funds will help connect county programs to better return on investment reporting, and future projects will be based on this data, helping the county stay efficient and transparent.
