Participatory budgeting injects direct democracy into the public budgeting process. Part of a government’s budget is set aside, and its use it to solely be decided by public vote. Citizens nominate prospective projects, and vote on which projects are funded.
The Participatory Budgeting Project is a non-profit dedicated to promoting this form of budgeting. This organization and the City of Boston are holding the 4th International Conference on Participatory Budgeting, May 20-22, 2016 in Boston, MA. Conference sessions will cover how this new form of budgeting has worked, how to continue developing programs to measure success, and how programs need to fit the institution. Participatory budgeting has taken root in some U.S. cities, like Chicago, but is not limited to cities. The conference will touch on how it has and can be used in the following environments:
- Local governments/special districts
- School districts
- Universities and colleges
- Public housing
Many more interesting topics are being offered, and a full agenda can be found here. Click here to register. To find more interesting and valuable conferences on a wide range of topics, as well as links to more information and registration, view our Conferences & Webinars page.