Participatory Budgeting has been taking off in New York over the last four years. Between March 29th and April 6th 2014, residents of ten participating council districts were able to vote on how to spend over $14 million of public money. If you lived in one of the districts below and 16 years of age or older, you could vote.
In 2011, four New York City Council Members launched a PB process to let residents allocate part of their capital discretionary funds. Since then, five more Council Members have joined the process, giving the community real decision-making power over at least $14 million in taxpayer money across nine districts.
In one district, lead by Councilman Levin, almost 2,000 residents turned out to vote. Five projects, at a total of $1.56 million, will be funded as a result of their participation. “These projects were developed by the community and will serve the community, and I am looking forward to seeing the impact they will have on the lives of residents throughout the district in the years to come,” Levin said in a statement.
“There were a lot of outstanding projects on the ballot this year and a lot of excitement from the residents throughout the 33rd District who came out to vote,”
- More information on PB in New York from the Brooklyn Times
- Report of five years of Participatory Budgeting in the US (PDF)
- Video of New York PB process, from the PBNYC.org website
