Maryland ranks near top in financial transparency report

(The Center Square) – Maryland ranked among the nation’s highest-scoring states in a new report examining how clearly governments disclose audits, pension obligations and other long-term financial information to taxpayers.

Truth in Accounting’s 2026 Financial Transparency Score gave Maryland an 84 out of 100, placing the state fourth nationally behind New Mexico, West Virginia and Indiana.

The report found Maryland benefited from clean audit opinions on both the state’s financial statements and its largest pension system, along with the use of an outside independent CPA firm for those audits.

In information provided to The Center Square, Truth in Accounting said Maryland’s audits are conducted by CliftonLarsonAllen, which the organization said aligns with its preferred audit independence standards.

The nonprofit group evaluates states using categories including audit quality, reporting timeliness, pension data, use of external auditors and whether retirement liabilities are fully reflected in...