Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget, helping to make budget decisions clear and accessible. 

Participatory Budgeting empowers voters, promotes education and responsibility, and makes political participation more inclusive and representative of the city’s demographics. It gives a voice to groups such as students and non-citizens who might otherwise be excluded from government processes.

The Civics for All Participatory Budgeting in Your School program brings this process to life for our students. Students engage in a participatory budgeting experience by identifying and proposing projects that are voted on by the school community.

Each selected school receives an allocation of $2260 to fund a special project chosen by their students. This is a great opportunity for students to amplify their voice and create something special for their school community. Once the projects have been finalized, the student body will vote to fund one project.

By participating in the participatory budgeting process, students can:

• Amplify their voice: Share their ideas and help shape their school community.

• Create something special: Propose and fund projects that align with their interests and needs.

• Develop civic skills: Learn about the democratic process and how to be an active citizen.