Most residents want to understand where their tax dollars go, but municipal documents are often long, technical, and hard to navigate. A Citizen Dashboard makes that information visual, direct, and accessible — turning data into understanding.
When citizens can see how public money is managed, confidence grows naturally. The goal is not more information; it is better information.
Why a Dashboard?
A well-designed dashboard shows the essentials without the noise.
It allows anyone to see, at a glance:
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How much the town collects in taxes and fees;
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Where the money is spent;
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What portion goes to major categories like infrastructure, recreation, or administration;
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How much debt the municipality carries;
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The progress of ongoing projects.
This kind of tool transforms transparency from a legal obligation into an everyday habit of communication.
What It Could Show
A municipal dashboard could include:
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Annual Revenues and Expenses: clear charts comparing planned vs. actual figures;
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Debt and Borrowing Capacity: up-to-date totals with historical trends;
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Project Tracker: timelines for approved or ongoing initiatives;
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Service Costs: simple visuals showing what each service costs per resident;
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Environmental and Social Indicators: sustainability, safety, and quality-of-life metrics.
Each element would link back to more detailed documents for those who want to dig deeper — but the front page would remain simple and visual.
How It Could Work
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Updated quarterly or semi-annually;
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Built on open data already required by law;
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Published directly on the municipal website;
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Designed for phones and tablets, so information is accessible anywhere.
Some small municipalities in Quebec and across Canada already use similar dashboards. They have found that when citizens can easily track progress, complaints decrease and engagement increases.
A Tool for Shared Accountability
The Citizen Dashboard would not just serve residents — it would help elected officials too. When progress is public, priorities stay clear, and results are easier to measure.
Clarity benefits everyone.