Understanding Houston Local Government
Local government decides what happens on your street. We use Houston's own data to explain how the city works and how to hold it accountable.
Budget Tracker
Follower of the money
“I'm the Budget Tracker. The city spends billions. I'll help you follow the money, read contracts, and check whether totals actually add up.”
Budget Tracker: Across 600 government records, 101 neighborhoods are represented. I flagged 22 records worth a second look — they're marked red on the map.
🗺️ Houston, mapped
Every dot is a record. Red dots are values our detectors flagged.
📈 Activity over time
Monthly record volume.
🍩 Where records end up
🏙️ Busiest neighborhoods
🧭 Your data crew
Different guides help you read this data from every angle.
Data Detective
Investigator of suspicious numbers
“Every red flag is a clue. Look closer.”
Neighborhood Hero
Champion of local communities
“Your block matters. Let’s see its story.”
Flood Watcher
Guardian against flooding
“Water never lies. Watch the low spots.”
Who does what
Accountability through data
Turn this data into a quest
Start a guided mission and earn XP as you explore Houston's open data and uncover what the numbers reveal.