What is Participatory Budgeting?
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a different way to manage public money, and to engage people in government. It 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.
Could we use it in Houston?
The Council District Service Funds program sets aside $11 million – $1 million for each Council District member – to allow Council Members to fast track projects. Approximately $6 million comes from capital monies while the remaining $5 million is pulled from operating funds. Check out this financial dashboard to see how the City is spending this money.Council District Service Funds Dashboardhttp://www.houstontx.gov/performance/publications/council-district-service-funds-dashboard
Promoting Innovation in Civic Engagement: Celebrating Community-Led Participatory Budgeting
World Bank – Participatory Budget
World Bank: Participatory Budgeting – An Experience in Good Governance
4 ways to boost the dismal turnout in local elections
The City That Gave Its Residents $3 Million
International Monetary Fund – How the Poor Can Have a Voice in Government Policy
UNICEF: Child Responsive Budgeting – The Case of Trinidad and Tobago
UNICEF – Participatory Budgeting
Youth Lead the Change: Participatory Budgeting Boston
What Happened When the City of Boston Asked Teenagers for Help With the Budget
Rockefeller Foundation – Participatory Budgeting Expands in New York City
World Bank – An Open Discussion on Open Budgets
Participatory Budgeting – St. Louis, Missouri
Huffington Post – It’s Your Money. Where’s Your Say?
Huffington Post – Portugal announces the world’s first nationwide participatory budget
South Seattle Emerald – Project Gives Youth a Voice in City Budget Process
Harvard Kennedy School of Government – Slow Democracy Builds a Better Park
Next City – Participatory Budgeting Reaches Historically Disenfranchised Neighbors
The Nation – Building Student Power Through Participatory Budgeting
The Nation – Participatory Budgeting Hits New York City
World Bank – Citizen Engagement in Kenya: From law to practice
Truth Out – Participatory Budgeting in Action: An Interview With Filmmaker Ines Sommer
Yes Magazine – Nashville Teens Mapped Their Daily Routes—And Got a New Bike Lane as a Result
Power to the people: Helsinki divides up more than €4 million on citizen projects
Pissoirs and public votes: how Paris embraced the participatory budget
