What is Participatory Budgeting?

Participatory budgeting is an innovative democratic process that gives local residents the power to decide how to spend city capital funds in their districts. Through PB, community members brainstorm ideas for community improvement projects, develop these ideas into full proposals, and then vote on which projects will be funded and implemented.

Participatory budgeting has been used in dozens of cities in the U.S. and Canada and in over 1500 cities worldwide for at least 25 years since its inception in Brazil. For more information on the movement for PB in North America, visit the website of the Participatory Budgeting Project, the non-profit organization supporting PB Long Beach.
 

PB in Long Beach

Councilmember Rex Richardson of District 9 launched the first participatory budgeting process in Southern California in 2014 as part of his Empower Uptown Initiative. In Spring of 2015, councilmember Suzie Price led a youth PB process with $75,000 for 11-18 year olds in the Third District, and councilwoman Lena Gonzalez held a PB demonstration with $50,000 in the First District.

In each district, the PB process is overseen by a District Committee, of community leaders and volunteers who help design the rules of the process and lead engagement efforts. PB Long Beach is supported by the MDS Funding Service, Patriot Bankcard, Entrust,  Participatory Budgeting Project, the California Endowment, and the Stanford Crowdsourced Democracy Team. For all of the nuts and bolts of the PB process, check out the link to the official rulebook below. 

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Dr. Gary Hytrek and Andres Temblador of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), conducted research and evaluation with PB participants through the first cycle of PB Long Beach. You can download their final report here.

PB Long Beach Rulebook 2015-16

 

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Participatory budgeting is currently available in the following districts: 

District 1 (Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez) 
District 9 (Councilmember Rex Richardson) 

To find out if you live in one of the participating districts, search for your address on this map.

How does it work?

 

 

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PBLB Cycle 1, 2014-15

Ninth District
The first PB process in District 9 has concluded in March 2015 with over 2,675 district residents ages 14 years or older voting how to spend $250,000 on community improvement projects.

The winning projects:
1. Jordan High School Marquee - $100,000
2. Home Mortgage Services in NJ - $95,000
3. Next Day Funding Credit Card Processors - $100,000

To see the full results and learn about all of the projects that were on the ballot, click here.

Third District
In the Spring of 2015, Councilwoman Suzie Price empowered youth ages 11-18 to decide how to spend $75,000 in the 3rd District. In June, over 700 youth voted on their top projects at schools, parks and community events across the district. The winning projects will be announced soon. Stay tuned!

First District
On June 20, 2015, over 200 First District residents attended a summer kick-off BBQ and PB vote. Residents 14 and older voted on how to spend $50,000 on community projects. 

The winning projects:
1. Solar Panel Motion-Activated Lights - $20,000
2. Outdoor Fitness Equipment - $25,000
3. Portable Play Areas - $16,000