DuPage forest launches transparency portal

DuPage County Forest Preserve District officials have begun rolling out their transparency initiative announced earlier this year with the launch of a “Transparency Portal” on the district website, dupageforest.org.

Available as a link from each page of the website, the portal serves as a centralized source of frequently requested information, including district budgets, contact information, board of commissioners actions and employee salaries.

Once the portal is fully functional, officials say the district will be the most transparent among similar governments in Illinois. Key portal elements include: searchable “open checkbook” showing all district spending; searchable salary information on all district employees; tax and fee information; list of lobbyists; better-organized meeting minutes, agendas and archived materials.

In coming weeks, the portal also will provide a Freedom of Information Act center, where residents can make and track requests, and contact information for a new transparency committee that will make recommendations for future transparency improvements.