Transparent Torrance

Since 2015, the City has used a tool called OpenGov to share financial information with the public. OpenGov is a free, interactive website where you can see how the City spends money and tracks its goals.

OpenGov Transparency Portal

What you can find on OpenGov

  • The annual budget. See how the City plans to spend money each year.
  • Actual spending results. OpenGov connects directly to the City's accounting system, so you can see real outcomes for any fiscal year.

How the City organizes its money

The City divides its finances into separate accounts called "Funds." Each Fund tracks a different part of City operations on its own.

For a complete picture of the City's financial health, read the latest Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). You can also find periodic Budget Review reports [here].

A note about subfunds

Inside the City's accounting system, some Funds are split into smaller pieces called "subfunds." These subfunds help staff track details internally.

When you use OpenGov, you may see these subfunds listed separately. In the ACFR, they are combined into one Fund, and any transfers between subfunds are removed. This is normal. It just means OpenGov shows a more detailed view than the ACFR.

How to use OpenGov

The Finance team created step-by-step instructions to help you get started.

Saved views

OpenGov includes pre-built "Views" that let you jump straight to a specific area of the City's finances. Each View name starts with a short code that tells you which type of Fund it covers.

  • GF - General Fund. The City's main operating fund.
  • OGF - Other Governmental Funds. Funds for specific government programs.
  • IS - Internal Service Funds. Funds for services the City provides to its own departments.
  • EF - Enterprise Funds. Funds for services that operate like a business, such as utilities.

After the code, you will see a brief description of what the View shows.