25 May, 2018
The Town of Hopkinton IT Department has released two new tools to aid in government transparency. From
the beginning of our website redesign process, additional and enhanced transparency tools have been one of
our primary goals. Hopkinton's IT Department is pleased to announce we've formed partnerships with Accela
for Boards & Committees management, and ClearGov for additional data visualizations regarding budgets and
spending. Both of these new tools can be found alongside VisGov and Town Checkbook in our Transparency
Center at pilot.hopkintonma.gov/transparency
Hopkinton’s new Boards & Committee Database provides a streamlined look and feel, easier navigation, and
the ability to track volunteers that may currently sit or have historically sat on numerous Committees. We also
clearly highlight the name of the Committee Chair and include a direct link to the Chair’s town-provided email
address. Residents also have the ability to see all open volunteer positions in one place, and the application
process allows for a more complete and fully electronic process, complying with a request from the Board of
Selectmen.
ClearGov joins VisGov as an additional budget visualization tool available to residents. Both tools allow residents
to see a visual breakdown of Hopkinton’s Revenues, Expenses, and Fund Balances plus the ability to see their
household’s contribution by entering an annual tax bill (VisGov) or see Per Capita spending (ClearGov).
Currently, ClearGov shows actual revenues and spending for FY16 and FY17, and will soon include budgeted
revenues and appropriated budgets for FY18 and FY19. When fiscal years close and Hopkinton receives audited
financial statements, previous years budgeted figures will be updated to actuals.
VisGov is undergoing an overhaul to version 2.0, and currently shows projected budgets from a financial exercise
that was completed a few years ago, and will be updated with historically accurate revenues and expenses once
the upgrade is complete. To be clear, the current financial data in VisGov is neither appropriated expense
budgets nor actual spending, and is only meant to provide you with an example of the look and feel of VisGov
as we work on upgrading to version 2.0.
Joshua Grossetti
Director of IT
