How one government agency is creating a transparent digital democracy with GitLab

At GitLab Connect Chicago, Robert Ross, chief data officer at the Cook County Assessor's Office, discussed how the office is utilizing GitLab to enhance transparency by publishing the code used for property assessments. This initiative marks a significant shift from traditional paper record-keeping and opaque policy-making to a more open, software-driven approach where "policy is code and code is policy." The office faced challenges such as replicating data formats, overcoming legacy systems, and receiving no support from the previous administration. Despite these obstacles, they have made substantial progress by making their algorithms public through GitLab repositories, a move unprecedented in the realm of county assessors. This transparency allows property owners to understand how their property values are determined, aiming to set a new standard for open governance and hoping to foster a political culture where transparency is seen as advantageous.

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