This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
05/08/2024 02:20 PMPress Release from Town of Guilford
On May 8, the Town of Guilford announced the launching of its new website-based Digital Budget Book powered by ClearGov, a leading provider of Budget Cycle Management software for local governments.
Digital Budget Book replaces static, cumbersome PDF budget books which were traditionally difficult for citizens to navigate and comprehend. The agency’s annual budget is now presented online in an intuitive format with interactive graphs and tables designed to make complex financial data easy for anyone to understand.
Digital Budget Book is mobile-friendly and ADA-optimized for visitors with disabilities who rely on assistive technology, such as screen readers and voice recognition software. In addition, the book’s format follows the best practices of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), allowing the Town of Guilford to easily qualify for the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
The Town of Guilford believes that operating with transparency is the foundation of a strong government and fosters positive civic engagement. This new website-based budget book allows constituents to see precisely how funds are generated and allocated and better understand how the agency’s annual budget impacts the community programs and services they care about most.
Visitors to the new interactive budget book can easily drill down by department and line item. In addition to the data being presented in easy-to-understand graphics, the Digital Budget Book also provides on-page sections for commentary where agency officials provide context and explanations for budget data.
“The Town of Guilford is proud to have adopted the Digital Budget Book solution as part of our plan to be more transparent, promote community engagement, and improve efficiency,” said First Selectman Matt Hoey.
Chris Bullock, CEO of ClearGov, expressed how happy he is about working with the Town of Guilford for this project.
“ClearGov is pleased to partner with the Town of Guilford to create a modern, website-based budget book that’s easy to understand,” said Bullock. “Citizens should be proud of the leadership the Town of Guilford has demonstrated by embracing innovation and taking this essential next step toward true clarity and accountability in local government.”