Skip to main content

User menu

  • Home
  • Post a Job
  • Register

Site Network

  • County News
  • School News
Home
  • News
    • Campaigns and Elections
    • Pension Reform
    • Comings and Goings
  • Local Policy Issues
    • Housing and Land Use
    • Infrastructure
    • Green
    • Health Care
    • Public Safety
    • Transportation
    • Transparency
    • Cybersecurity
    • admin
  • Jobs Board
  • Contact

Now Hiring?

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. More Cities Are Experimenting With Community Budgets

More Cities Are Experimenting With Community Budgets

By Brittany M. on
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
1927

In 2013, Vallejo became the first to adopt a citywide participatory budget (PB) process. In this form of ultra-direct democracy, citizens are invited to propose and directly vote on public projects that use their tax dollars. Proponents say it increases community engagement, understanding of the local government process, and transparency.

Vallejo adopted the idea as a way to boost morale in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which forced the city into bankruptcy. It was modeled on a similar program in Brazil and championed by former City Councilwoman Marti Brown.

The interest in PBs has grown since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the renewed focus on social and economic justice. Large cities like Los Angeles and Sacramento now have PB projects in the works. They’ll have a strong equity component.

CapRadio News recently dove into the PB movement and the history of Vallejo’s program in particular. City officials and activists considering community budgets should have a listen. They’ll learn a great deal about how Vallejo’s experiment worked and the challenges it faced at the outset. They’ll also learn about the most popular PB project by far: potholes.

Listen here. 

Tags
Featured
news
participatory budgets
community budgets
Los Angeles
Sacramento
Vallejo
Section
Finance
Brittany M.
Published 1 year ago
Last updated 1 year ago
1927
  • facebook-f
  • twitter
  • envelope
  • print
Sign Up for Our Awesome Newsletter

 

City Jobs

  • Utilities Director
    City of Gilroy
  • Building Official
    City of El Cerrito, CA
  • Police Chief
    City of Cotati, CA
  • Chief Executive Officer
    North County Transit District
  • Senior Financial Analyst (20427044)
    City of Thousand Oaks
  • Community Development Resource Agency Director
    Placer County
  • RISK MANAGER
    City of Stockton
  • STAFF DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
    City of Stockton
  • City Engineer/Transportation Engineer
    City of Gilroy
  • Service Centers Branch Director
    County of Yolo, CA.

Campaigns & Elections

Santa Ana Considers Allowing Noncitizens to Vote
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Undocumented immigrants could be able to vote in Santa Ana municipal elections under a policy being…
Rancho Cordova to Adopt New Map for District Elections
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
The Rancho Cordova City Council will take a major step next week toward finalizing a district-based…
Oakland Sees Another Election Mix-Up Involving Candidates for School Board
Thursday, August 24, 2023
A city error that almost disqualified the only two candidates from Oakland Unified’s District 5…
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln Running for Congress
Thursday, July 20, 2023
In 2020, Stockton experienced a huge political upset when the Republican pastor of a local church,…
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer Launches Bid to Unseat Terra Lawson-Remer
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has announced his candidacy for the county’s Third District…

Comings & Goings

Merced Hires New City Manager
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Merced has selected a City Hall insider to serve as its next city manager. Scott McBride will take…
Santa Monica City Clerk to Retire
Monday, September 25, 2023
Santa Monica City Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren will retire at the end of the year, concluding 29…
Santa Barbara County Sees More City Manager Retirements
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
At least two administrators from the Santa Barbara County area will vacate their positions this…
Laguna Beach Hires Interim City Manager
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Retired Irvine city manager Sean Joyce will take over as the interim city manager of Laguna Beach…
Manteca Hires New Director of Finance
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
The City of Manteca has hired a new finance director. Shay Narayan, who currently serves as budget…
Clear keys input element