Weekly Edition | March 13, 2012 | By: NP-Staff

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government is pleased to announce that nine public bodies in New Mexico have been recognized for the transparency of their official websites. Winners of Sunny Awards from the Sunshine Review include:

• The City of Albuquerque
• Bernalillo County
• Albuquerque Public Schools
• Las Cruces Public Schools
• The City of Las Cruces
• The City of Rio Rancho
• Santa Fe County
• Santa Fe Public Schools
• The City of Santa Fe

“We’re thrilled that New Mexico’s biggest local governments have been so proactive in putting important public information online,” said Gwyneth Doland, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government. “With nine Sunny Awards, we’re just out of the top tier in 2012, but I hope this will encourage smaller governments in the state to beef up their online presence. Next year we could lead the nation!”

The Sunshine Review evaluated more than 6,000 government websites. Those that posted high-quality information about budgets, meetings, lobbying, financial audits, contracts, academic performance, public records and taxes received “A” grades and Sunny Awards.

“The Sunny Awards recognizes governments that are doing an exemplary job at proactively disclosing information to taxpayers,” said Michael Barnhart, President of Sunshine Review. “We at Sunshine Review are proud to acknowledge those who are doing it right and setting a transparency standard that all governments can, and should, meet.”

To see all of the winners click here.

The announcement coincides with “Sunshine Week,” March 11-17, a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.