State Controller Brandon Woolf declared August as Idaho Transparency Month on Friday, launching an initiative designed to rebuild public confidence in government openness at a time when the state’s financial transparency standing has declined sharply.

The announcement comes as Idaho has dropped from 4th place nationally in financial transparency to 27th, according to a 2026 Truth in Accounting report — a 23-place fall that underscores the urgency behind Woolf’s initiative.

“At a time when trust in government is under increasing pressure, transparency has never been more important,” Woolf said.

Throughout August, Woolf’s office plans a multipronged effort to engage Idaho residents and reinforce the state’s commitment to open government. The campaign will include stakeholder discussions, sharing transparency tips online, and direct outreach to gauge public understanding of government access.

Woolf oversees statewide accounting, payroll, and financial reporting as Idaho’s chief fiscal officer. The controller’s office is responsible for ensuring that the state maintains financial transparency and that citizens can access information about how their tax dollars are spent.

Two key platforms already support that mission: Transparent Idaho and Townhall Idaho. Both offer searchable databases where residents can find public spending data, financial reports, local government information, and details about upcoming public meetings.

“When government information is easy to find, easy to understand, and available to everyone, citizens are better equipped to participate in their communities and hold government accountable,” Woolf said.

The sharp drop in Idaho’s ranking suggests the state faces work ahead in making that vision a reality. The state’s tumble from top-five status to near the bottom quartile raises questions about whether existing transparency tools are sufficiently user-friendly or widely known among the public.

The Transparency Month campaign appears designed to address that gap by introducing Idaho residents to the resources already available and simplifying the process of accessing government data. By making the case for transparency directly to citizens, Woolf’s office hopes to rebuild both public understanding and trust in state government.

For North Idaho residents seeking information on state finances or public meetings, both Transparent Idaho and Townhall Idaho provide starting points for government information access. The controller’s office encourages Idahoans to explore these resources and reach out with questions about accessing government data.