Show Us the Local Subsidies: Cities and Counties Disclosing Economic Development Subsidies

Most cities and counties do not provide accessible information about which companies receive subsidies, tax benefits, or job creation. Taxpayers are entitled to know how public funds are used and whether they deliver promised outcomes. This report uses a scoring system to evaluate the transparency of subsidy programs, grading them on key metrics such as recipient names, subsidy amounts, and job creation results. It concludes that despite some progress, most local governments lack sufficient transparency, limiting public accountability and undermining effective community development.