Grosse Ile rolls out ClearGov transparency page ahead of 2027 budget process

Theresa McLaughlin, Grosse Ile Township finance director, introduced ClearGov budgeting and transparency software during the Aug. 26 township board meeting and said she expects to publish a public transparency page after training department managers. McLaughlin said the township has purchased ClearGov modules for a transparency page, operational budgeting and a budget book, and that the transparency page will be posted on the township website after a short rollout.

"This is the official introduction to our new ClearGov budgeting software," McLaughlin said, and added: "Once I release the URL for this transparency page, this is what everybody's going to see." She walked trustees through sample screens showing demographic data, multi‑year revenues and expenditures, and a worksheet where department managers will enter budget numbers for 2027.

The presentation focused on how ClearGov will display five years of historical data and allow residents to view fund budgets and per‑capita costs. McLaughlin demonstrated a sample fund (bike path fund) to show how changes in a single line item immediately update totals and projected fund balance. She said department managers will have editing rights for their departments; board members will have review access only. The township will continue to publish audited financials from its accounting system; ClearGov will be updated by McLaughlin via periodic uploads of Excel schedules.

McLaughlin said the township will continue to use Munetrix (a separate transparency/performance tool some municipalities use) while evaluating whether ClearGov satisfies state transparency requirements. She told trustees ClearGov’s additional modules—strategic planning, capital budgeting, personnel budgeting and capital project tracking—are available but were not purchased as part of the initial implementation. She estimated additional modules cost roughly $6,000–$7,000 each and said she will obtain updated pricing.

Board members asked how ClearGov will interact with the township’s current accounting system and whether draft changes by department managers will be visible publicly. McLaughlin replied that nothing will be posted publicly until the board approves the final budget and that she will lock worksheets at deadlines during the process. She also said exported Excel schedules will be available for internal work.

McLaughlin scheduled department training and said she hoped to make the transparency page available within days of completing that training. She also said ClearGov’s client support and online ClearGov Academy training modules will be available to staff and trustees.

The board did not take a vote; McLaughlin asked trustees to review the tool as it goes live and to indicate whether they want ClearGov’s additional modules added later.