Post on 12-Apr-2017
Participatory Budgeting: An Overview
Presentation By:Jillian Johnson, Durham City CouncilFall 2016
Outline
•Participatory Budgeting 101•Why use Participatory Budgeting?•Case Studies•About the Process•Questions & Comments
What is Participatory Budgeting?Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. It enables taxpayers to work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives.In contrast to processes that allow community members to give input or feedback on budget decisions, participatory budgeting allows residents and stakeholders to actually make the choices that affect their lives.
Real Money, Real Power: Participatory Budgeting
Top Seven Reasons toUse Participatory Budgeting
It’s a National Best Practice
To Deepen & Broaden Democratic Participation
To Promote Transparency & Accountability
To Provide Civic Education
To Make More Informed Decisions
To Promote Fairer Spending
To Build Community
The Participatory Budgeting Process
Step 0: Project Design• Set the geographic boundaries for PB districts.• Set voting age.• Set funding allocations• Design and appoint a steering committee.• Engage consultants.
Step 1: Idea Generation & Recruitment
Step 2: Proposal Development
Step 3: VOTE!
Step 4: Winning Projects are Implemented
Participatory Budgeting Case Studies
New York CityChicago, ILVallejo, CA
Greensboro, NC
New York City• 28 of NYC’s 51 City Council districts used PB to distribute $38 million in public money in 2015.• Council members discretionary budgets are the source of funding.• Districts allocate between $750k and $2.5m, at the discretion of individual council members.• All residents of each district age 14 or older are eligible to vote.
Sample Projects, District #3• Cool Muhlenberg Library. Replace the building’s HVAC cooling unit to ensure that the branch can continue to serve as a cool space in the summer months, which includes serving as an official NYC Cooling Center.• A New Library for City Knoll School. Technological and construction updates to create a library space at City Knoll School. This project will help engage students and prepare them for the skills needed in the 21st century.• New Audio / Visual System for P.S 11. A new Audio/Visual System in the auditorium of P.S. 11. The school needs a working A/V system to fulfill its curriculum requirements for students.• Trees for Council District 3. Plant new trees and install tree guards on blocks with few or no trees throughout District 3.
District Funding Pledged Population (thousands)
Per Capita Spending
3 $1,680,000 169 $ 9.94 5 $1,000,000 168 $ 5.95 6 $990,000 168 $ 5.89 7 $1,300,000 168 $ 7.74 8 $2,150,000 167 $ 12.87
10 $1,000,000 166 $ 6.02 11 $2,015,000 153 $ 13.17 15 $1,070,000 168 $ 6.37 19 $995,000 156 $ 6.38 21 $921,000 161 $ 5.72 22 $1,245,000 159 $ 7.83 23 $1,205,000 153 $ 7.88 26 $1,530,000 154 $ 9.94 27 $1,124,000 156 $ 7.21 29 $1,116,000 155 $ 7.20 31 $1,225,000 156 $ 7.85 32 $2,510,000 156 $ 16.09 33 $1,100,000 161 $ 6.83 34 $1,000,000 155 $ 6.45 38 $2,390,000 168 $ 14.23 39 $1,395,000 162 $ 8.61 44 $1,070,000 158 $ 6.77 45 $738,025 153 $ 4.82 47 $1,125,000 168 $ 6.70
TOTAL $31,894,025 AVERAGE $ 8.27
NYC Funding Stats
Chicago, IL• 7 of Chicago’s city wards participate in Participatory Budgeting.• Funding source is discretionary funds that each alderman puts up for PB at their discretion.• Districts each allocate between $750k and $1m each for PB.• Rogers Park, Chicago was the first municipal PB process in the US.
Sample Projects, 49th Ward• 62% to Street, Alley and Sidewalk Repair ($620,000)• Park Improvements -‐ ($140,000)• More Trees for Rogers Park ($68,000)• Improved Pedestrian Crossing ($20,000)• New Bus Benches ($14,000)• Underpass Murals ($30,000)• Mini Astroturf Soccer Field at Langdon Park ($100,000)
District Funding Pledged
Population (thousands)
Per Capita Spending
10 $1,000,000 52 $ 19.23
17 $750,000 52 $ 14.42
31 $1,000,000 54 $ 18.52
35 $1,000,000 55 $ 18.18
36 $1,000,000 55 $ 18.18
45 $1,000,000 56 $ 17.86
49 $1,000,000 59 $ 16.95
$6,750,000 $ 17.62
Vallejo, California• Vallejo, California did their first city-‐wide participatory budgeting process in 2012. Vallejo started the first city-‐wide PB process in the U.S.• Since 2012, 3 participatory budgeting cycles have funded 25 projects with a total of $6.72 million.• The funding source is city taxes, allocated by city council.• Vallejo has allocated an average of $18.85 per resident each cycle.
Sample Projects - Citywide• Potholes & Street Repair -‐ $550,000• Light up Vallejo! A Lighting Improvement Project -‐ $170,000• Parks & Recreation Improvements -‐ $649,000• STEAM Laboratories for VCUSD Schools -‐ $256,000 • Street Cleaning & City Cleanup -‐ $25,000 • Community Gardens and Nutrition Education -‐ $146,500 • Downtown Property Enhancement Program -‐ $69,000
Greensboro, NC• Greensboro completed their first participatory budgeting pilot project in 2015-‐2016. • $500k dollars of city money was allocated evenly across 5 districts and $150k was spent on implementation costs.• Greensboro is the first city in the Southeastern US to pursue PB.
Sample Projects: District 1• Shade Cloth Covers at Warnersville Pool -‐ $15,000 • Updated Equipment in Woodlea Acres Parks -‐ $8,000 • Crosswalk Vandalia & Randleman Road -‐ $20,000 • Traffic Lane Randleman Road & Glendale -‐ $12,000 • Bus Shelter Lake Field & Vandalia -‐ $11,000 • Bus Shelter Glendale & Randleman -‐ $11,000
Help is Out There!
Questions & Comments