New York City has launched its annual Participatory Budgeting (PB) initiative called “The People’s Money,” allowing residents to directly decide how part of the city’s budget is spent. This citywide program enables community members to vote on projects they want to see implemented in their boroughs.
The People’s Money operates through a four-phase process spanning two years:
- Phase 1: Idea Generation – Residents attend workshops or submit project ideas online to address community needs
- Phase 2: Borough Assemblies – Randomly selected residents meet for six sessions to review ideas and select final projects for voting
- Phase 3: Citywide Voting – All New Yorkers ages 11 and older vote on which projects to implement
- Phase 4: Project Implementation – Community organizations develop winning ideas and implement projects with city support
You can vote through two methods, until June 25:
- Vote online – LINK HERE
- Vote in-person at designated community events and ballot box locations throughout the city, view all available sites and hours here
The first citywide cycle launched in September 2022 through collaboration with 82 community partners. Thousands of residents submitted ideas and voted on projects, resulting in 46 funded initiatives receiving a total of $5 million to address community-identified needs.
For complete information, visit the official People’s Money website or NYC Civic Engagement Commission (CEC)’s official website.
