Nevada transparency site graded B for accessibility

When it comes to shedding light on state spending and making those details accessible to taxpayers, Nevada ranks near the top of the class.

A new study by the United States Public Interest Research Group Education Fund ranked transparency websites for all 50 states based on content and user-friendliness. Nevada was tied for 10th nationally and scored a B for making its open government site informative and easy to navigate.

Officials from the Nevada Policy Research Institute, the think tank that publishes public employee pay and benefits, said the B grade is not a reflection of overall government transparency in the state.

“While state law mandates that all information related to the conduct of government business be provided to Nevadans in a timely manner, the state’s transparency law lacks any mechanism to hold government accountable for stonewalling public record requests,” NPRI spokesman Michael Schaus said.

Nevada’s site allows residents to view the “state checkbook” — a breakdown of revenue and spending — and the state budget. Visitors can also see which companies receive subsidies or other economic development incentives.

“When states are transparent about how they spend tax dollars, we all win: the state saves money, it can operate more efficiently and effectively, and citizens can feel more confident in their government,” said Michelle Surka, program director with U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “That’s why Nevada should continue to invest in accessible, comprehensive, online spending data.”

But Nevada has work to do, researchers said. The state could improve by allowing people to download data related to economic development subsidies, which would allow citizens to track spending patterns.

The report found that many states’ websites lack features that make them intuitive for users, such as a full search function and interactive tools. Four states received an “F” — Wyoming, Alaska, California and Hawaii.

Eight states received an “A,” including Arizona, Minnesota, Iowa and Louisiana.

Contact Ramona Giwargis at rgiwargis@reviewjournal. com or 702-380-4538. Follow @ Ramonagiwargis on Twitter.