DETROIT, MI -- In a study of online access to budget information in the nation's largest 30 cities, Detroit was among five cities ranked at the bottom of the list with an 'F' grade.

The Public Interest Research Group in Michigan Education Fund conducted the study, concluding that Detroit "provides very little additional public information beyond what is provided in the city's standard budget documents."

Detroit, unlike 17 other cities receiving higher grades, doesn't provide "checkbook-level detail" on government contracts and other spending through online databases, according to the report.

The city also doesn't allow residents to submit service requests online, nor does it provide a centralized public access point for transparency, the report determined.

"Detroit should prioritize transparency efforts as an important step towards getting the city back on its feet financially," said PIRGIM spokesperson Meghan Hess.

"The ability to see how government spends its funds is fundamental to democracy. Transparency in government spending checks corruption, bolsters public confidence, improves responsiveness, and promotes greater effectiveness and fiscal responsibility, which will all be critical to Detroit's recovery."

Chicago and New York were the only cities awarded an 'A.' San Francisco received an 'A-.'

And Detroit was joined by Sacramento, Cleveland, St. Louis and Atlanta with 'F' grades.

Read the full report here.

Update, Friday, Jan. 25:

The city's response:



"We are not familiar with this rankings report."

-- Cheryl Johnson, Detroit Finance Director.

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Khalil MLive. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.