THE SUNSHINE PLAN

A FRESH, OPEN ERA FOR APPOMATTOX

When tax season comes, the Treasurer's envelope lands in your mailbox. You never wonder where it is or whether it will arrive. Your county government should offer the same kind of certainty when it comes to information, problem-solving, and responsiveness.

Below is the blueprint I'll carry into county governance:

1. MEETINGS YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE

Every Board and committee meeting will be live streamed in high-definition, with archived video and a searchable transcript posted within 24 hours. Missed Monday night? Catch the exact agenda item Tuesday morning.

2. NO-SURPRISE AGENDAS OR MISSING DOCUMENTS

At least 72 hours before any vote, you'll be able to read the full packet: agenda, staff reports, and draft documents, proposed contracts; online, posted to Facebook, and in your inbox if you opt-in. No more late-breaking surprises.

3. THE PLAIN-LANGUAGE ANNUAL REPORT

Once a year, every household will receive a short, honest summary of:

• Projects in motion: timelines, budgets, and photos.
• Where your taxes went: simple charts, not a maze of ledgers.
• What's coming next: so you can speak up before decisions are locked in.

4. THE PUBLIC RECORDS VAULT

Contracts, leases, department policies, agreements with other agencies, and every signed document will live in an online, searchable vault. Filter by vendor, dollar amount, or expiration date. If your tax dollars are behind it, it's your right to see it.

5. CITIZEN REQUEST TRACKER

File a service issue, zoning question, FOIA request, or complaint in one place—and receive a ticket number, a target resolution date, and live updates. Think of it as package tracking for your local government: accountability built in.

WHY IT MATTERS

If the County were as diligent about telling you what's going on as it is about collecting your tax check, half our frustration would vanish. Sunshine deters waste, invites fresh ideas, and rebuilds trust faster than any slogan ever could.