Participatory Budgeting
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 residents to work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives.
Participatory budgeting was designed to create opportunities for local communities to have real decision-making power over how local money is spent. Over 30 cities worldwide have used this process to increase residents' say in how money is spent.
What are the benefits?
Participatory budgeting has a variety of benefits. Government officials are able to hear directly from residents about their priorities. Residents are able to learn more about how government processes work. Together, this means that more transparency and trust are built. Residents also gain leadership skills, and those who cannot participate in traditional voting are able to have a voice. We believe this process can be an important tool to achieving health equity in Louisville.
What is the history of participatory budgeting in Louisville?
In October 2016, the Center for Health Equity held its first policy summit, My Dream for Lou. To prepare for the summit, residents took part in a photovoice process, sharing what gave them hope in their community. These responses were divided into four working groups for the summit: 1) Economic Development and Investment, 2) Quality Housing, 3) Recreation & Public Spaces for Healing and Social Change, and 4) Community Capacity Building (keep hyperlinks). At the end of the summit, two groups, Recreation & Public Spaces for Healing and Social Change, and Community Capacity Building shared participatory budgeting as a desired policy for Louisville.
Since then, Center for Health Equity staff have worked hard to do background research, get technical assistance, secure funding, and lay the groundwork for Louisville’s first pilot process.
How will the projects be funded?
- $50,000 capital infrastructure funds in District 6
- $50,000 capital infrastructure funds in District 8
- $50,000 from the Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement from the Department of Public Health and Wellness
- $50,000 from a Human Foundation grant (awarded in Novemner 2018)
Capital infrastructure Funds:
These funds will be distributed separately by each district. They can only be used for capital infrastructure projects, meaning projects that can be “built.” Examples of projects that have been funded in other cities using these funds include park benches, bus shelters, roadways, signs, murals, sidewalks, lighting, bike lanes, traffic calming, parks repairs and updates, playgrounds, fountains, and sports fields.
Mayor’s Healthy Hometown Movement Funds:
These funds have been supplemented by the Department of Public Health and Wellness. Historically, they were allocated as mini-grants to non-profits. Our goal is to have residents allocate these funds instead. The only restriction they carry is that all projects must be implemented by the end of the fiscal year, June 2019. These funds will be voted on by residents in both districts, and may be used for projects in either district or for a collaborative project between the two districts.
Who can participate?
Unlike traditional voting, anyone can participate in participatory budgeting. This means that people who are often left out of the democratic process can have a say. People under the age of 18, those who are undocumented, and those who have a felony on their record are all encouraged to participate. Of course, we want to hear from all the residents living in districts 6 and 8 for this pilot process. The only restriction to voting is that residents must live in one of the two council districts.
We welcome volunteers from across the city, and hope you are able to learn more about the process to advocate for expanding the process.
