1. WHAT DOES OPEN GOVERNMENT MEAN TO YOU? Transparency Action Plan 2011 Summit Pilot Project: Budget Saturday, July 30, 2011 The Levin Forum Atrium Jill Miller Zimon Writes Like She Talks: writeslikeshetalks.com In The Arena: jillmillerzimon.blogspot.com [email_address]

2. WHY DOES BUDGET TRANSPARENCY MATTER?

4. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM BUDGET TRANSPARENCY? From Akron Beacon Journal, http://www.ohio.com/news/akron-opens-books-on-web-1.108575 November 11, 2009, excerpt: Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic is hoping to employ the power of the World Wide Web to solve some of the city's and his image problems. … The new feature puts the information in one place and also allows computer users to access annual, quarterly and monthly data on what the city government spends and what it takes in. ''I'm tired of the insinuations and accusations being thrown around that we're hiding information,'' Plusquellic said. ''Most of the information already was available, but now it's all consolidated into one place and people will be able to find it easier.'' The mayor said this also should silence critics who say the city is not willing to share such information. ''We have nothing to hide. All of our financial information will be available at the touch of a computer,'' he said. ''We are making absolutely certain that no one can say we aren't providing information.''

5. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM THIS SESSION? Image from scenecycle.com: Image of the Modomyth http://www.scenecycle.com/?page_id=61

6. GETTING TO KNOW BUDGETS

9. CURRENT STATE OF BUDGET TRANSPARENCY