Open Government

Providing the public with valuable information

Virginia Security Summit

April 27, 2009

Objectives

• Concept

• Individual site information

• Overall considerations

• Presenters:

– April Gunn, APA

– Alison Anderson, DPB

– Kathy Graham, VEAP

Government 2.0

• Transparency

• Participatory

• Collaborative

Transparent

A commitment to ease access to valuable public information – to enhance accountability and encourage citizen feedback

Participatory

A commitment to actively use the expertise within the general public to provide better public services or make better decisions

Collaborative

A commitment to breakdown silos to deliver better citizen service regardless of the level of government, nonprofit or private sector organizations

Open.Virginia.Gov

Commonwealth Data PointBackground

• Legislated in 2005

• Housed with APA due to collection of data

• Mandated requirements

• Live November 1, 2005

• Developed in-house

Why would you come to this site?

• State revenues and expenditures

• Local Government revenues and expenditures

• Budget to Actual Comparisons by Agency

• Small Purchase Charge Card

• Various demographics

• Analyses

Commonwealth Data Point

• http://datapoint.apa.virginia.gov/

Security/Privacy/Confidentiality

• Confidential data

-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act Regulations (FERPA)

- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

• Privacy concerns

• Secure all data obtained

Moving Forward

• Re-design to be more user friendly

• Improve ability to search

• Evaluate and expand data available

Virginia’s Budget SiteBackground

• Established to simplify and consolidate many budget documents

• Collaborative effort between DPB, LIS, APA

• Portal site to the most current budget information for the Commonwealth of Virginia

Why would you come to this site?

• Access/Search Budget Bill

• Access/Search Budget Document

• Stay current with news related to Virginia’s budget

Virginia’s Budget Site

• http://dpb.virginia.gov/budget/vabudget.cfm

Security/privacy/confidentiality

• During budget development, all information is confidential…considered “Governor’s Work Papers”

• Budget Document

• Budget Bill

Moving forward

• Google search of amended bills – raises the need for technical collaboration between branches of government

Virginia PerformsBackground

• Prior to FY 2006 - variety of methods to develop strategic plans– minimal cohesiveness

• Performance measures - maintained on Virginia Results website - lacked cohesiveness and inconsistent data

• For the development of the 2006-2008 budget biennium, Virginia embarked on a comprehensive strategic planning effort using a model template

Background

• Strategic planning model - Access database – service area structure and overarching agency plan

• Agencies attended training sessions on how to use the database and were given pointers on developing the information

• Agencies submitted their plans to their respective Cabinet Secretary for initial review and then submitted to DPB for inclusion in the Budget Document

• Agencies are required to have their plans posted on their website

Why would you come to this site?

Assess how the state is doing in areas that affect the quality of life for you and your family

View and understand the state's performance, learn about plans for the future, and monitor progress

Agencies report their performance data directly into Virginia Performs on a quarterly basis

Virginia Performs

• http://vaperforms.virginia.gov/

Security/Confidentiality/Privacy

During development of strategic plans, information is not publically released until approved by DPB

Moving forward

Refine agencies strategic plans and measures

Update the executive progress report

Release Management Scorecard – Administrative measures

Stimulus.Virginia.GovBackground

• VA Stimulus web site launched on Feb. 10 after only 2 weeks of development effort

• Federal Stimulus Bill (ARRA) passed on Feb. 17• LogiXML™ used as the reporting tool • Initial web site solicited public ideas for projects; DPB

hosted the database and VEAP-BI did the reporting; gathered input for 3.5 weeks

• Current web site reports out how the funds are being allocated; Governor’s Office hosts it, DOA collects the information from the agencies; VEAP-BI publishes the reports; continually revised

Background

• Animated charts, graphs, and maps that show what programs and localities are receiving funding and in what amounts, as determined

• Milestones in Virginia’s efforts• Stimulus news• Video of Governor Kaine• Links to federal recovery and transparency sites• Links to state transparency sites

Stimulus.Virginia.Gov

• http://www.stimulus.virginia.gov/

• Citizen email addresses (initial site)• Problem with our security certificate caused

some citizens to get a security warning• Information about how money is allocated has

no security issues• Future: concerns about what detail of spending

of stimulus funds to make available

Security/Confidentiality/Privacy

Moving Forward

• Continue to receive updated information from the agencies through DOA regarding how the federal money is being allocated to their programs and to localities

• Next phase will be to report on how the funds are actually being expended. This will be a challenge.

What can you do to help?

• Collaborate with other agencies to connect data potentially useful to the public

• Provide feedback to agencies promoting transparency

• Ensure any confidential data is secured

What should you be worried about?

• Obtaining specific, reliable data

• Communicating context of data when needed

• Relating data from diverse systems is difficult

• Data privacy/security

• Limited resources/priorities/funding

Questions?