Citizens Information Center

The Illinois Policy Institute has created a Ten-Point Transparency Checklist to hold government and elected officials accountable to the citizens and taxpayers, providing a “best practices” framework intended to improve government transparency throughout the State of Illinois

It is the Village of Vernon Hills objective to meet IPS’s requirements using the transparency checklist as a foundation for open government.

The Vernon Hills Policy Checklist is as follows


Elected & Administrative Officials


The Village website shall include contact information, including name, phone number, and an electronic contact method for all elected officials, the Village Manager, and the head administrator for each Village department.


Meeting Information

The Village website shall include notices and agendas, as available, for all future public meetings of the Village Board, along with board packets and minutes. This information shall remain available on the Village’s website for five years. Meeting dates may be changed, and meetings may be canceled, subject to the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.


Public Records


The Village website shall include the name, address, phone number, and an electronic contact method for the Village Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Officer, along with the address, phone number, and electronic submission method for FOIA requests. The Village website shall also include the FOIA process response time and any fees charged by the Village in connection with FOIA requests and responses.


Budgets


The Village website shall include the detailed budget for the current-year, along with the detailed budgets for the prior 4 years.


Financial Audits

The Village website shall include the Village’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs) for the past 5 years. The Village website shall also include any special project report results – such as for TIF Districts and special construction projects – audit schedules, and program performance audits. This information shall remain available on the Village’s website.


Expenditures


The Village website shall include the Village’s checkbook register and credit card expenditures to all individuals and third-party vendors – including name of payee, description of expenditure, and amount of expenditure – for the past 5 years.


Salary & Benefits

The Village website shall contain the total wages for each individual by position and benefits, in accordance with Public Act 97-0609 and as required by State Statute.


Contracts

The Village website shall include the following: open bids & proposals for all contracts for over $25,000, along with where and how to submit a bid or proposal; all approved vendor contracts for over $25,000, along with bids for those contracts, if applicable, and union contracts. Proprietary proposals will not be placed on the website. This information shall remain available on the Village’s website for five years.


Lobbying


The Village website shall include the membership in any taxpayer funded association who lobby and any contracts with lobbing firms for the prior 5 years

  • Lobbying Firm Contracts
  • Associations & Memberships
    • Northwest Municipal Conference
    • Illinois Municipal League
    • Lake County Municipal League

Taxes and Fees

The Village website shall include the following: a central page showing the tax rate for all major Village revenue sources – income, sales, etc.; a detailed listing of all Village revenue sources; and, a fee schedule showing all Village fees on residents and business.