WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING / PEOPLE'S BUDGET?
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a simple method to let all residents have more of a say in how their tax dollars are allocated in their community.
The public is expected to:
HOW WILL IT WORK FOR US?
We are allocating up to $1 million across three funds to a public process where you will ultimately choose the projects that are funded in the district.
As there is no ordinance that currently governs any participatory budgeting process for the City of San Antonio, winning projects are technically public recommendations to Councilman John Courage. Funds for certain projects in the "District Projects" category may not be available until FY2020.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES?
The city of Greensboro, North Carolina employs Participatory Budgeting practices in all of its districts. With a city population of ~300,000 and a combined statistical area population of ~1.6 million, Greensboro serves as a great example of what we'd like to accomplish here on the north side of San Antonio. Click here to view Greensboro's participatory budgeting department's website.
And now: Our 2018 efforts, which can be found here!
HOW'D WE GET HERE?
After attending several presentations and forums on Participatory Budgeting, most of which were put together by a local group called PB San Antonio, Councilman John Courage wanted to do what he could to give the residents of District 9 the opportunity to have a more of a say in how their tax dollars were spent.
The District 9 office opened an online form for submissions, and received 44 ideas from District 9 residents. Three committees, each tied to one of the separate funding mechanisms outlined above and comprised entirely of District 9 residents, vetted the proposals and narrowed down the projects to be sent to City staff for cost estimates.
After a few projects were struck due to their estimated cost exceeding the entirety of the D9PB budget, all three committees came together to finalize the first ever D9PB Ballot - 19 projects in total - which were voted on by the residents District 9. Ultimately, 10 projects were voted through. All were fully funded in the FY2019 budget.
WHEN'S THE 2020 VOTE?
Stay tuned for updates in 2020!
WHO CAN VOTE?
You must be a resident of District 9 and be at least 13 years old. Both age and address will be verified by the online ballot.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a simple method to let all residents have more of a say in how their tax dollars are allocated in their community.
The public is expected to:
- Submit projects they think will better their community.
- Choose the projects that are ultimately funded.
HOW WILL IT WORK FOR US?
We are allocating up to $1 million across three funds to a public process where you will ultimately choose the projects that are funded in the district.
- $775,000 is from the D9 Pedestrian Mobility allocation of the 2017 Bond. This funding source will go toward the "District Projects" section of the ballot.
- $200,000 is from our Neighborhood Accessibility & Mobility Program (NAMP) fund. Examples: Crosswalks, traffic calming, speed humps, radar feedback. This funding source will go toward the "Neighborhood Projects" section of the ballot.
- $25,000 is from our City Council Project Fund (CCPF). - These are typically community improvement projects. CCPF can cover a wide array of initiatives. Please view all limitations regarding CCPF funds here. This funding source will go toward the "Community Projects" section of the ballot.
As there is no ordinance that currently governs any participatory budgeting process for the City of San Antonio, winning projects are technically public recommendations to Councilman John Courage. Funds for certain projects in the "District Projects" category may not be available until FY2020.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES?
The city of Greensboro, North Carolina employs Participatory Budgeting practices in all of its districts. With a city population of ~300,000 and a combined statistical area population of ~1.6 million, Greensboro serves as a great example of what we'd like to accomplish here on the north side of San Antonio. Click here to view Greensboro's participatory budgeting department's website.
And now: Our 2018 efforts, which can be found here!
HOW'D WE GET HERE?
After attending several presentations and forums on Participatory Budgeting, most of which were put together by a local group called PB San Antonio, Councilman John Courage wanted to do what he could to give the residents of District 9 the opportunity to have a more of a say in how their tax dollars were spent.
The District 9 office opened an online form for submissions, and received 44 ideas from District 9 residents. Three committees, each tied to one of the separate funding mechanisms outlined above and comprised entirely of District 9 residents, vetted the proposals and narrowed down the projects to be sent to City staff for cost estimates.
After a few projects were struck due to their estimated cost exceeding the entirety of the D9PB budget, all three committees came together to finalize the first ever D9PB Ballot - 19 projects in total - which were voted on by the residents District 9. Ultimately, 10 projects were voted through. All were fully funded in the FY2019 budget.
WHEN'S THE 2020 VOTE?
Stay tuned for updates in 2020!
WHO CAN VOTE?
You must be a resident of District 9 and be at least 13 years old. Both age and address will be verified by the online ballot.
Special thanks for our 2018 efforts:
Councilman John Courage & the District 9 staff would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the residents and organizations who helped us in bringing this process to the public.
D9 Community Projects Committee
Harriette F. - Chuck B. - Pamela P. - Lorena S. - Joan S.
D9 Neighborhood Projects Committee
Laura R. - Clint S. - Pamela P. - David S. - Jay D. - Mary C. - Luis A. - Jon A. - Lorena S. - Donna T.
D9 District Projects Committee
Art D. - Vincent L. - Bobby H. - Andy A. - Ronnie N. - Michael G.
City of San Antonio
Transportation & Capital Improvements Department
Committee Meeting Hosts
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
PB San Antonio
Allen O. - Elaine B.
And thank you to all who submitted the projects that made this all possible!
