TruthPartners.org conducts independent research and analysis of government spending, state agencies, special districts, public contracts and the decisions behind how taxpayer and ratepayer dollars are used.
California government extends far beyond the agencies most people interact with every day. State departments, authorities, commissions, joint powers authorities, special districts and other public entities collectively oversee substantial public resources.
TruthPartners.org researches these agencies and the records behind their decisions to provide a clearer understanding of how public money is spent, how contracts are awarded and how government entities operate.
Our research draws from budgets, contracts, audits, meeting records, financial reports, public records requests and other primary-source material.
Our goal is to provide factual, well-documented research that gives readers the information and context necessary to draw their own conclusions.
We examine the organizations, records, transactions and decisions behind government operations and spending.
Research involving California departments, boards, commissions, authorities and other state entities, including their spending, contracts, programs and administrative decisions.
Analysis of special districts, joint powers authorities, public authorities and other independent government entities responsible for delivering public services and managing public resources.
Review of budgets, expenditures, procurement decisions, vendor relationships, professional service agreements and other significant uses of taxpayer and ratepayer funds.
Understanding a public agency requires more than reviewing its website or reading a press release. Our research begins with the underlying records.
We examine budgets, audits, contracts, procurement documents, meeting agendas, staff reports, financial disclosures, correspondence and records obtained through the California Public Records Act.
These records are reviewed collectively to understand timelines, identify relationships and patterns, and provide context around government operations and financial decisions.
California has thousands of public entities responsible for spending public funds, delivering essential services, awarding contracts and making decisions that affect communities.
Some receive substantial public attention. Others operate largely outside the everyday view of taxpayers and ratepayers. TruthPartners.org works to examine the records behind these organizations and make complex government operations and spending easier to understand.