Evaluation of Montana city websites

Below is a chart evaluating the transparency efforts of Montana city websites.

Reading the chart

In the chart below:

	means that information is included on the government website
	means that the information was not provided on the government website
P	means that information was partially provided

Check the Sunshine Review page about each City for more detailed information about what information is available on the City website, along with recommendations SR users have made for positive changes.

• See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard

Conclusions chart

In 2012, Sunshine Review evaluated the five largest cities in Montana, which averaged "C+" website transparency grade.

	Budget?	Meetings?	Elected officials?	Admin. Officials?	Permits/ Zoning?	Audits?	Contracts?	Lobbying?	Public records?	Taxes?
Y	6	6	4	5	5	5	0	0	3	2
P	0	0	2	0	1	0	4	0	0	0
N	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	6	3	4

Comparison chart

City	Grades	Budget	Meetings	Elected Officials	Admin. Officials	Permits/ Zoning	Audits	Contracts	Lobbying	Public records	Taxes
Billings, Montana	B	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	Y	Y
Bozeman, Montana	B-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	Y	N
Butte, Montana	C-	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	Y	N	N	N	N
Great Falls, Montana	C-	Y	Y	P	N	Y	Y	P	N	Y	N
Helena, Montana	D	Y	Y	P	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N
Missoula, Montana	B-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	N	Y

All city ratings

Comparison chart

City	Grades	Budget	Meetings	Elected Officials	Admin. Officials	Permits/ Zoning	Audits	Contracts	Lobbying	Public records	Taxes
Billings, Montana	B	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	Y	Y
Bozeman, Montana	B-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	Y	N
Butte, Montana	C-	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	Y	N	N	N	N
Great Falls, Montana	C-	Y	Y	P	N	Y	Y	P	N	Y	N
Helena, Montana	D	Y	Y	P	Y	Y	N	N	N	N	N
Missoula, Montana	B-	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	P	N	N	Y

Correcting errors

If you discover an error in this chart or on one of the articles about a Montana city, you can correct it immediately or report the error.

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