Saratoga's Books Become More Open

The City of Saratoga and Delphi Solutions, a Silicon Valley software start-up, recently announced the deployment of one of the most innovative municipal finance data visualization tools in the country.

Using Delphi Transparency, the city will provide the public with the ability to easily access, understand, and analyze the city’s budget data, a news release issued by the government agency on Dec. 19 said.

The Saratoga City Council approved the city’s partnership with Delphi Solutions on Oct. 17, 2012. The online tool can be accessed by clicking here.

“Delphi Transparency has created a platform that allows the general public to get a detailed look at the city’s financial data,” said Saratoga Mayor Jill Hunter. “It summarizes the data in an easy-to-read format and complements the city’s 500-page budget document, which is published each year. It brings the numbers to life.”

City Manager Dave Anderson, who supported the project, stated: “This tool supports our goal to maintain transparency and demonstrate our accountability to the residents that we serve. Local government finances can be difficult to understand, but with Delphi Transparency it will be much easier for the public to see how the City is using taxpayer dollars.”

"The City of Saratoga is on the forefront of the open data movement,” says Zachary Bookman, CEO and co-founder of Delphi. "By making its financial data transparent for its citizens, the City of Saratoga deepens the bond with its community members and gives meaning to the term ‘access to information.’ ”

Founded by Stanford technologists who work for the nonprofit California Common Sense, and backed by prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors, Delphi Solutions develops user-friendly, intelligent software to help governments access their financial data, analyze it, and share data with their community members, the city said in the release.

To see the city's operating budget as presented by Delphi please click here. 

council and commissions, the city manager's department, finance and administrative services, recreation and facilities, community development, non-departmental programs, public safety and public works.

The cities of Palo Alto and Salinas are currently using Delphi Solutions.