The Guide features governance approaches for data that is owned or in possession of a city or county.

Data Governance is an important, complicated consideration in the modern era of local governments. As cities and counties (each sometimes hereinafter referred to as a “Jurisdiction”) discover ways to use, retain, and organize data, it is imperative to learn from one another as we consider the complex nature of governance. Sharing effective approaches to policy development and implementation tools in a “community of practice” manner, as envisioned in the formation of the MetroLab Network Data Governance Task Force that produced this document enhances the ability of local governments to both use data to provide increasingly efficient and beneficial public services, and to protect the public and mitigate risks of misuses of data.