City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting

Cambridge Chronicle

Posted Dec 12, 2018 at 5:00 PM

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20181212/cambridge-announces-participatory-budgeting-winning-project

The city of Cambridge recently announced the results for its fifth participatory budget process, where over 6,849 Cambridge residents ages 12 and older voted to decide how to spend $900,000 on capital projects to improve the community.

The following six projects won $900,000 in FY20 Capital Funding: Trees, please! ($200,000); Water Fountains in Every Park ($90,000); Protect the Health and Safety of our Firefighters ($110,000); Smoother Cycling ($250,000); Clean Up Cambridge ($125,000); and Rain Gardens for Resiliency ($150,000).

Steve Annear
February 5, 2018

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/02/05/cambridge-new-public-toilet-open-for-business/8xQH0yYKOET6o45CkhrpfN/story.html

When you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. And if you’ve got to go in Cambridge, you can now go in the city’s newest public toilet, a $320,000 outdoor restroom that was installed in the heart of Central Square.

Officials on Monday reminded residents and visitors that the new bathroom, located at the corner of Massachusetts and Western avenues, is officially open for, well, business.

“ICYMI the new Central Square Public Toilet ... is now operational,” officials said in a tweet to their 11,000 followers. The toilet was first put in place in October, but hooking up the utilities, testing, and inclement weather delayed its opening until late last month.

Emily Cassel
August 4, 2017

http://scoutcambridge.com/participatory-budgeting-2018/

When budget delegates convene next week to discuss 2018’s Participatory Budgeting proposals, they’re going to have their work cut out for them.

This is the fourth PB cycle, which invites the community to decide how a portion of the city’s capital budget is spent. Ideas are organized into seven categories: culture and community facilities, education, environment, parks and recreation, public health and safety, streets and sidewalks, and transportation. And this year, residents get to allocate their biggest chunk of cash yet: $800,000, an increase of $100,000 from FY17. 

Jonathan Sigal
July 20, 2017

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20170720/how-would-you-spend-800k-in-city-cambridge-wants-to-know 

The city of Cambridge has $800,000 to spend on miscellaneous capital projects, and it wants residents’ help with deciding where - and how - the money gets spent.

The money is part of Cambridge’s fourth annual Participatory Budgeting cycle, with funds coming from property taxes. Over 300 ideas have already been submitted. Michelle Monsegur, a budget analyst for the city, said she is expecting north of 500 submissions ahead of the July 31 deadline.

“It’s really a rush to get them in,” Monsegur said, “but we always end up impressed by what people come up with.”

December 17, 2016

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20161217/cambridge-announces-participatory-budgeting-results

The results are in for the third participatory budget process. More than 4,700 Cambridge residents ages 12 and older voted to decide how to spend $700,000 on capital projects to improve the community - a 13 percent increase from last year.

Marc Levy
Thursday, December 15, 2016

http://www.cambridgeday.com/2016/12/15/participatory-budgeting-vote-solar-panels-kinetic-energy-panels-bus-trackers-top-list/

Adding solar panels to the Main Library, flashing lights for crosswalks and real-time bus tracking displays led the city’s third annual Participatory Budget process, in which 4,730 residents age 12 and older voted on how to spend $700,000 of the city’s budget. (Well, actually $706,000.)

Community members brainstormed project ideas in June and July for volunteer budget delegates to research and develop into formal project proposals from August through November, staff explained. Proposals were vetted by city staff and approved by the city manager to appear on a Participatory Budget ballot in December for a public vote. Each voter could name five projects to fund.

Natalie Handy
August 16, 2016

http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/news/20160816/545-ideas-submitted-on-how-to-spend-700k-in-cambridges-participatory-budget

With the submission deadline for the third round of the Participatory Budget officially closed, more than 70 volunteer delegates are now tasked with paring down 545 ideas submitted by residents to improve the city.

This year’s Participatory Budget will allow community members to decide how to spend $700,000 out of the public budget for capitol projects in Cambridge. Ideas were accepted between June 1 and July 31, according to budget analyst for the city of Cambridge, Michelle Monsegur.

Emily Cassel
December 22, 2015

http://scoutcambridge.com/participatory-budgeting-winners/

The second round of Participatory Budgeting wrapped up last week, with more funds to spread around ($600,000, up from $500,000), a greater number of project proposals (540 rather than 380) and a 53 percent increase in overall voter participation.

That big spike in interest could be due to the retooling of the PB timeline—last year, the program ran in parallel with putting the city’s own budget planning. “That was incredibly difficult for us,” says Jeana Franconi, budget director for the city. Planning started in May this year, and the steering committee formed in June. Citizens submitted their ideas in August, and the final voting concluded in December.

Eric Levenson
December 18, 2015

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2015/12/18/bikes-buses-and-bottles-cambridge-residents-voted-how-spend/eXBLx7OioSlgjwWQlFVZAP/story.html

Transportation and bike safety were at the center of Cambridge residents’ minds when they voted on how to divvy up $600,000 in funding last week.

The city of Cambridge on Thursday announced the results of its Participatory Budgeting program, in which residents voted from Dec. 5 to 12 on how to spend public funds. From a list of 23 pre-approved options, residents chose to fund a total of seven programs.