Transparency Shouldn’t Be Optional

What would you do if you were in my position?

I’m facing a dilemma—one I’ve dealt with for years. Before I lay it out, I ask you to keep two things in mind: First, the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District (BVGCD) is not the only public entity that refuses to place public-interest advertising in the local newspaper. And second, this attitude is not unique. It reflects a broader mindset that exists across several boards and agencies—and that mindset needs to change.

This newspaper is not a nonprofit or charity. Every week, we incur real costs to print and distribute your local news. We don’t receive government grants, GoFundMe donations, or outside subsidies. We operate a business that provides a vital public service—but it is a business, and it must be sustainable to survive.

One of the services we offer is advertising. That includes local retailers, legal notices from law firms, and—most importantly—Public Notices, many of which are required by the State of Texas. These come from cities, school districts, and boards like the BVGCD. There’s an extensive list of required notices, particularly for schools and local governments, with fewer mandates for boards like Type A/B Economic Development Corporations. But required or not, public transparency should be a priority.

And yet, since 2013, the BVGCD has not placed a single transparency-type notice in the Robertson County News—the official newspaper of record.

To be clear, that is their choice. The BVGCD can choose not to place transparency ads in the local paper. But considering that groundwater is a deeply important and sometimes contentious issue in Robertson County, it’s hard to understand how withholding information from local residents is in the best interest of the district.

Ironically, the BVGCD does place ads in Brazos County—but not in a newspaper. Instead, they air ads on a local television station, typically between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. I’m not sure who they expect to reach at that hour. It’s certainly not prime-time public outreach, but it is cheap. Still, the question remains: Why is transparency a priority in Brazos County and not in Robertson County?

This is not an isolated issue. There are other general managers, board presidents, and local officials who also choose to do the bare minimum. They seem to view public engagement not as a responsibility, but as an inconvenience. That mindset is a disservice to the communities they serve.

This attitude surfaced recently during a conversation with a city manager who became irate over the phone. Moments later, the city attorney called to tell me the ad in question “wasn’t required.” That call happened fast—straight from the city manager to legal defense.

In that same conversation, the city manager made two telling remarks. First, he accused me of “just trying to make money.” Second, he threatened to “take the ad to a competitor,” referring to The Bryan-College Station Eagle. Let me be clear: the Robertson County News doesn’t have a competitor when it comes to serving the people of Robertson County—and the Eagle certainly isn’t one.

To his first point: Yes, we are a business. But I don’t call governments to “sell” ads. I contact them about public notices because they matter. You have a right to know when city-owned equipment is for sale. You should have the opportunity to bid. And when a relative of a city employee wins a bid for a working vehicle at a bargain price—without public notice—that’s a problem. Transparency helps prevent that perception of impropriety.

So why is this a dilemma?

Because space is limited. As mentioned, this is not a nonprofit—we are supported by advertising. The newspaper operates on a 50/50 ratio: half ads, half editorial. That means I have to make hard decisions every week about what gets published in print, what goes on the website, and what makes it into the Daily newsletter. I want to publish everything. And frankly, you deserve a newspaper that can publish everything.

When something is a paid advertisement, it gets priority. It can’t be cut. That’s why it’s so important that public entities—especially those handling your tax dollars—support transparency by placing small, consistent notices in the local paper. Meeting announcements. Trimmed-down agendas. Equipment auctions. Property sales. Even when not strictly “required” by a lawyer’s interpretation, these notices still serve the public interest.

I bring this to your attention for two reasons.

First, because you are the only one who can create change. These are your tax-supported entities, and only you can demand that they do a better job of keeping you informed. If you want to know who else follows the “bare minimum” approach to transparency, email me. I’ll provide the names and contact information you need to make your voice heard.

Second, because every inch of space in a newspaper is valuable, and it must be used wisely. If agencies expect to use that space for free, while avoiding minimal advertising costs that support both transparency and local journalism, then it’s not just the paper that suffers—it’s the public.

Transparency isn’t a burden. It’s a responsibility. It’s time more of our public institutions treated it that way.

Note: Though written for Robertson County, this is a wide-spread issue throughout Texas and the 254 counties. While I’m new to Hardin County, this is a conversation worth having. I’m working on a way to start a conversation with official entities to see if we can expand public transparency. At current count more than a dozen Texas newspapers will run this editorial this week, it is that important .