Participatory Budgeting is back for its fourth cycle in Durham, allowing residents the opportunity to allot $2.4 million in city on (almost) whatever project idea they can dream up.
Durham began using Participatory Budgeting (PB) in 2018. Carmen Ortiz, budget engagement manager with the city of Durham, has worked on PB since the first cycle.
“It’s not just about giving residents these projects, but also about educating them, empowering them, and training them on how to be engaged in the city and learn how to move through the process,” Ortiz says.
One of her proudest moments on the PB team comes from working with a group of Latina moms who she says were engaging with local government for the first time through the budget process.
“There was a lot of hand holding, because they didn’t speak English, and I had to kind of guide them,” Ortiz says.
For some residents, the PB cycle is their first foray into local government. Residents as young as 13 can vote. The projects that folks propose, like ADA-compliant park equipment, or lighting and cameras to improve resident safety, interface with a host of city departments including parks and recreation, public works, transportation, and yes, finance. Those who participate in the PB process get a detailed look at how city initiatives move from idea to implementation.
Ortiz says that participants in participatory budgeting, like the group of women who Ortiz helped shepherd through the PB process in year one, often take what they’ve learned and find other opportunities to continue engaging in their community.
“It’s almost like they got a foot in and they thrived and did so well,” Ortiz says. “And that’s what you’re giving community members with PB; an opportunity to step in and learn how things work and become a leader on your own.”
The “participatory” side of the process only has two requirements; being a Durham resident and at least 13 years old. Folks can submit projects online, or join one of the information sessions held throughout the budget cycle. The PB Steering Committee does resident outreach to ensure that as many residents as possible can join in the fun, and that communities want the projects proposed for their areas.
The idea collection phase is underway, meaning residents can submit their proposed projects now. Next, over the summer, budget delegates will review proposals for feasibility, equity and community support. Finally, in October and November, residents will be able to vote on which projects they want to see funded.
Speed and efficiency are important to voters who participate in the process. Some projects are already being considered by the city and the PB process can help them jump ahead. Additionally, some projects proposed through the PB cycle are already being funded by the city, and get bumped off the list.
“One of the things that’s really important for us is that projects are implemented in a timely manner,” Ortiz says.
The PB team wants projects that can be implemented in two to three years.
“Why? Because we want residents to see results,” Ortiz says. “If people are not seeing the results, they’re no longer going to trust you.”
Projects are scored based on feasibility, impact and equity.
“One of the things that we’re being very intentional about in this cycle is really informing people what is feasible, what is not feasible, so that we get proposals that are more realistic,” Ortiz says.
The city council already has several budget retreats and public hearings where community members could make direct requests to their representatives. They are overloaded with requests that are restricted by budget constraints. On the other hand, funding for participatory budgeting is already accounted for, clearing one of the biggest hurdles.
Recurring requests include safety and security, and parks and recreation. Ortiz says that when enough projects following a similar theme are presented through the PB process, city departments take that feedback and try to incorporate those needs into their own budget to avoid using the PB money.
Alex Ramos, chair of the steering committee, has spent most of his young career working in civic engagement, and sees PB as a way to inform more of his community about local government.
While a student at Riverside High School, Ramos worked with organizers to pack the room at city council and school board meetings advocating for interpreters and support for undocumented and immigrant students. He says that experience opened his eyes to how local government affected his day-to-day life.
After graduating from Duke University with an economics degree, Ramos continued his civic engagement work through Poder NC Action where he hosted workshops on the importance of local government. When the PB team put out requests for residents to join the steering committee, Ramos saw it as a chance to leverage his skills in a new way.
Ramos has focused on bringing more youth voices into the budget conversation. Those who aren’t old enough to vote can feel like government either isn’t accessible to them or doesn’t affect their lives.
“I think a lot of youth think, ‘oh, it’s down the road. It doesn’t matter.’” Ramos says.
Presenting ideas and voting for projects gives Durham’s adolescent population in particular a taste of the electoral process. The steering committee includes positions for Durham’s youth “so that those voices are included,” Ramos says.
“I’ve had so many moms who were like, ‘hey, tienes que votar. You have to do this’ with their kids who are in high school,” Ramos says. “I don’t know if this person will remember, but at some time, they will say, well, I’ve done something that’s like voting and is related to elections and deciding something for their local community.”
The Participatory Budget team is hosting its Cycle IV launch event on Thursday, February 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Holton Career & Resource Center, with future idea collection events planned across the city.
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