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Introduction toParticipatory

Budgeting

JoshLerner

ExecutiveDirector,

TheParticipatory

BudgetingProject

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Why participation in budgeting?

Budgetsarepolicywithouttherhetoric

Moneytalks,sopeoplepayattention

Publicbudgetsaretaxpayermoney

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A Ladder of Budget Participation

Participatory

budgeting

Citizenboards

orcouncils

Focusgroups&townmeetings

Onlinegames

Hearings&deputations

Community

control

Limited

participation

Consultation

Informing

Tokenism

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What is participatory budgeting?

A democratic process in whichA democratic process in whichcommunity members directly decidecommunity members directly decide

how to spend part of a public budgethow to spend part of a public budget

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What is participatory budgeting?

Makingrealdecisionsaboutrealmoney(NOTaconsultation)

Anannualcycle

(NOTaone-offevent)

Usuallyfordiscretionaryfunds

(NOTthewholebudget)

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How does participatory

budgeting work?

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Where has participatory

budgeting worked?PortoAlegre,Brazil- 1989

LatinAmerica,Europe,Asia,Africa,NorthAmerica3,000+PBprocessesintheworld!

Cities,States,Counties,PublicHousing,Schools,CommunityOrganizations

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1.5millionresidents,inSouthernBrazil

Asmanyas50,000peopleparticipateannuallyindecidinghowtospend$200million

(upto20%ofbudget) Aftereightyears,sanitation

coveragenearlydoubled,the

numberofstudentsinschoolsdoubled,andbusserviceexpandedtoneglected

areas.

Porto Alegre, Brazil: 1989-present

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Participatory Budgeting in North

America

2001:CityofGuelph,

Ontario

Participatory Budgeting in

North America: Experiences So Far

2001:

TorontoCommunityHousing

2006:PlateauBorough,

Montreal2009:

49th Ward,Chicago

2011:NewYorkCity

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SecondlargestpublichousingproviderinNorth

America:164,000tenants Since2001,tenants

haveallocated$9millionperyearindiscretionarycapitalfundsthrough

participatorybudgeting

Toronto Community Housing: 2001

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Chicagos 49th Ward: 2009

49th Ward:60,000residents,NEChicago

Potofmoney:AldermanJoeMoores$1.3milliondiscretionarybudget

Fundsforcapitalprojectsonly

FirstPBCycle:April2009 April2010

SecondCycle:

May2010 May2011 ThirdCyclestarted

October2011

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Organizing for PB

Red=Mainlycommunityorganizing

Blue=MainlyelectedofficialorganizingPurple=Community&electedofficial

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Why Participatory Budgeting?

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Public EducationPublic Education

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Deeper DemocracyDeeper Democracy

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More Informed DecisionsMore Informed Decisions

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Fairer SpendingFairer Spending

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Stronger CommunitiesStronger Communities

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Accountability & TransparencyAccountability & Transparency

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Connects Officials with ResidentsConnects Officials with Residents

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Whats Next for PB in North

America?

City-widePB

PBwithuniversities,schools,housing

authorities,CDBGs,coalitions

PBforrevenue

Onlineandmobileparticipation Coresupportmaterialsforlocalgroups

ConnectionsacrossPBprocesses