Participatory Budgeting: Real Money, Real Power

Donata Secondo Project Coordinator

The Participatory Budgeting Project

Why participation in budgeting?

• Budgets are policy without the rhetoric

• Money talks, so people pay attention

• Public budgets are taxpayer money

What is Participatory Budgeting?

A democratic process in which A democratic process in which community members directly community members directly decide how to spend part of a decide how to spend part of a public budgetpublic budget

• Making real decisions about real money (NOT a consultation)

• An annual cycle (NOT a one-off event)

• Usually for discretionary funds (NOT the whole budget)

How does participatory budgeting work?

Where has participatory budgeting worked?

Porto Alegre, Brazil - 1989

Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, North America1,000+ PB processes in the world!

Cities, States, Counties, Public Housing, Schools,Community Organizations

New York City: 2011

District 39, Brooklyn Brad Lander (D)

District 8, ManhattanMelissa Mark-Viverito (D)

District 32, QueensEric Ulrich (R)

Over $5 Million TOTAL in Council

Member discretionary

funds

Over $5 Million TOTAL in Council

Member discretionary

funds

District 45, BrooklynJumaane Williams (D)

PBNYC Year 1 - Outcomes

• PB Engaged over 8,000 people• 2,400 residents identified 2,000 project ideas

to address community needs• Over 300 active volunteers researched, revised

and developed 78 full project proposals• 6,000 voters chose 27 winning projects – and

voters were more representative of community demographics than in standard elections

PBNYC Year 1

Video

PBNYC 2012-2013

District 8: Melissa Mark-Viverito

District 8: Melissa Mark-Viverito

District 19: Dan HalloranDistrict 19:

Dan Halloran

District 33: Stephen Levin

District 33: Stephen Levin

District 23: Mark WeprinDistrict 23:

Mark Weprin

District 39:Brad LanderDistrict 39:

Brad Lander

District 45: Jumaane D. Williams

District 45: Jumaane D. Williams

District 44: David Greenfield

District 44: David Greenfield

District 32: Eric Ulrich

District 32: Eric Ulrich

AT LEAST $10 MILLION IN CAPITAL DISCRETIONARY

FUNDS TOTAL!

AT LEAST $10 MILLION IN CAPITAL DISCRETIONARY

FUNDS TOTAL!

Main Goals:Main Goals:

1) Inclusion1) Inclusion 2) Equality2) Equality 3) Empowerment3) Empowerment

Other Goals:Other Goals:equity, more civic participation, community-building, equity, more civic participation, community-building, education, responsible and efficient spending, education, responsible and efficient spending, sustainable and livable neighborhoodssustainable and livable neighborhoods

Core PrinciplesWhy PB in NYC?Our Goals

How are decisions made?Traditional vs. Participatory

Process

How are decisions made?Traditional vs. Participatory

Process

2. Delegate Meetings (Oct-Feb)

develop proposals

3. Project Expos(Feb)

share proposals and get community feedback

How does PB work in NYC?

City-Wide Steering CommitteeDesign and oversee overall process• Council Member Staff• Grassroots Organizations• Resource Organizations• District Reps

PBPLead Technical

Assistant

District Committee D19

Community Voices Heard

Community Engagement Partner

District Committee D23

District Committee D32

District Committee D33

Council Members

District Committee D39

District Committee D44

District Committee D45

District Committee D8

Organizers and Support

the process locallyImplement and manage

Participatory Budgeting in NYC

Everyone can participate in PB!

Anyone can attend an assembly and propose a project.

To be a budget delegate you must:• be at least 14 years old, and• live in the district, work in the district, own a business in

the district, attend school in the district, or have children who attend school in the district

To vote for projects you must be at least 16 years old and live in the district

Who can participate?

Questions &

Ideas