You decide how to spend millions of dollars from the city budget! Scaling up Participatory Budgeting as a Tool for Direct Democracy in NYC

Agenda Get to know our neighbors Learn about the City budget process, participatory budgeting, and our city Identify capital and expense project ideas for our city Gain knowledge about ideas for how Participatory Budgeting could scale up in NYC under a new administration Assembly Goals

1. Welcome and Icebreaker 2. Introduction to the City Budget & Participatory Budgeting (Including a video!) 3. Questions & Answers 4. Breakout groups to brainstorm project ideas 5. Report-backs 6. Participatory Budgeting Expansion: What It’ll Take & What It Can Be Assembly Agenda

City Budget runs on a Fiscal Year from July 1 st to June 30 th This year’s budget was $70 Billion in Expense $10 Billion in Capital Generally the Mayor issues a budget and the Council approves it City Budget Basics

Mandatory Spending = > 80% money that has to be spent in a particular way (e.g. committed contracts, entitlement programs, debt service, etc.) Discretionary Spending = ~ 10% money that can be spent however decided on a yearly basis based on need/ interest Mandatory and Discretionary Spending

Money that a city councilmember typically allocates as he or she sees fit Capital Funds “Bricks and Mortar” infrastructure projects Expense Funds “People and Services” programs Capital and Expense Budgets There are two different City budgets…

A democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget What is Participatory Budgeting?

Participatory Budgeting Video

CD8: Melissa Mark-Viverito (D) CD33: Stephen Levin (D) CD23: Mark Weprin (D) CD39: Brad Lander (D) CD45: Jumaane D. Williams (D) CD44: David Greenfield (D) CD32: Eric Ulrich (R) $12 million reaching 1.5 million residents This Cycle PBNYC Districts CD38: Carlos Menchaca (D) CD31: Donovan Richards (D)

1. Neighborhood Assemblies (Sep-Oct) identify community needs, select delegates 4. Community Vote (Mar-Apr) vote on projects 3. Project Expos (Mar) share proposals and get community feedback 2. Delegate Meetings (Nov-Mar) develop proposals 5. Implementation & Monitoring of projects How does PB work in NYC?

1.Open Up Government 2.Expand Civic Engagement 3.Develop New Community Leaders 4.Build Community 5.Make Public Spending More Equitable Why PB in NYC? Our Goals:

14,000 people participated in the 8 districts 1,600 residents identified 1,700 project ideas 275+ budget delegates developed 122 full project proposals 13,000 voters chose 45 winning projects totaling $10 million Last Cycle PBNYC Outcomes

New Change Agents  50% of people had not previously worked for community change Diverse Constituency  60% women  38% people of color  25% born outside of the US Higher rates than regular elections  Among low-income people and POC Who Participated?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH $100 MILLION DOLLARS? Demonstration Exercise

Eligible projects must cost: CAPITAL EXAMPLES Building a library branch Building a community center Renovating a school Revamping a park EXPENSE EXAMPLES Subsidized childcare slots More teachers Job Corps slots After school programs $35,000$100 million Sample Discretionary Projects

Playground Improvements $250,000 Laptops for 8 schools $450,000 Solar-powered greenhouse $300,000 Park Enhancement$350,000 Dog Run$450, Jobs Corps Position$250, Childcare Subsidies$150,000 Some Sample Costs of Items

Introductions Review City Map & Ground Rules Idea Brainstorm Rank Top 3 Ideas Prepare for Report Back Small Group Discussion Agenda

Let’s hear some ideas that came up! What would happen next? – People would volunteer to be delegates – Budget delegates would meet in committees – Projects would be put on a ballot – The public would vote – Top projects would become part of the city budget Large Group Report Back & Next Steps

Support to Expand Current Process – Get more Council Members to participate! Nine (9) this cycle Twelve (12) more committed after recent elections That’s twenty-one (21) of fifty-one (51) – Create Centralized Support Office in Council – Provide Council Matching Funds for District Processes – Allocate funds to be used for expense projects Ideas for the next Speaker

Expand beyond the current process – Provide support for PB processes in Council – Connect PB in Council with Additional NYC Budget Funds – Pilot PB in a City Agency (NYCHA/ DYCD) Consider PB one tool to engage residents – Create Citizen Assemblies to decide few key issues – Create Office of Civic Engagement/ Community Democracy Ideas for the next Mayor

Take a minute Think about your own vision Write down your thoughts Share with a neighbor Bring it back for a wrap up Where do you see PB in NYC?

Ways to Get Involved! Get involved o Participate in or support a process o Advocate for a new one to start Help spread the word Keep informed through our list-serves Visit