Accounting for Community Input: Participatory Budgeting in Greensboro. Spoma Jovanovic, Vincent Russell & Karen Kixmiller NCLGBA, December 2015

Transcription

1 Accounting for Community Input: Participatory Budgeting in Greensboro Spoma Jovanovic, Vincent Russell & Karen Kixmiller NCLGBA, December 2015

2 What? What Is Participatory Budgeting? 298

3 ORLD WIDE ONCEPT Since 1989, PB has been implemented around the world. Participatory Budgeting is in 10 cities in the United States. Greensboro is the first city in the South to use PB.

4 PB relies on outreach by staff and volunteer leaders.

5 PB s structure is designed to build relationships of trust among residents and with government officials.

6 Neighborhood Assembly Ideas People share their ideas for what projects they would like to see implemented in their community.

7 Volunteer Facilitators Chart Ideas Brainstorm Collaborate

8 How did PB come to Greensboro? Three years of grassroots advocacy City Council approved PB in a split 5-4 vote in October 2014 Allocated $500,000 total with $100,000 to each of 5 districts for Capital Projects. Grassroots activists had asked for $4.5 million to allocate PB launched August 2015 with projects budgeted/implemented in

9 $264,643,331 Greensboro s General Fund, FY $500,000 + $100,000 City PB funds for projects and operations.0023% PB Portion of Greensboro s General Fund Budget

10 The fact that the City of Greensboro is willing to funnel $500,000 into community improvement projects AND is asking ideas from community members as to the distribution of it, is AMAZING! Neighborhood Assembly Participant

11 How It Works in GREENSBORO $200,000 to get PB up and running with $100,000 provided from foundations and other grants matched with $100,000 from City budget. Hiring of two full-time employees Consulting assistance from the NY-based PBP Evaluations provided by UNCG-based research team Steering Committee appointed by City Council writes the rules Utilizes community volunteers

12 Where the money for PB comes from.. PROJECT FUNDING OPERATIONAL COSTS: $200,000 City Funds: $500,000 General Budget $100,000 allocated per Council district ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS Absorbed (est.) $ TBD In-kind resources City Funds: $100,000 Neighborhood Small Projects Fund Foundations: $100,000 Z. Smith Reynolds Fund for Democratic Communities Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Waterhouse Family Institute for the Study of Communication and Society at Villanova University

13 Rules and Requirements Project Guidelines $30,000 individual project cap Capital projects only On city-owned property Participation Guidelines Children as young as 11 can volunteer and vote Any Greensboro resident regardless of legal status or voter registration Residents vote for projects in the Council district in which they reside

14 TIMELINE 1. Idea Collection (Oct - Nov) 5. Implementation & Monitoring of projects 4. Community Vote (May) 2. Proposal Development (Dec-March) 3. Project Expos (April-May) Participatory Budgeting Project

15 The Greensboro PB Evaluation Process EVALUATION TEAM University Researchers National Research Board Local Research Board City Staff PB Greensboro Staff University Students PROCESS 18 months National Metrics Institutional Review Board Surveys, Interviews Direct Observations Mapping Iterative Analysis OUTCOMES Local Results National Comparisons Culture Shifts Building Civic Capacities Increased Education

16 Greensboro Outreach Nets Ideas & Participation Neighborhood Assemblies Pop Up Events On-Line Submissions Scheduled Activities Number of People Total ideas collected: 596

17 Don t be Overwhelmed (Lessons from Vallejo) 829 Initial Ideas Budget delegates prioritize 60 proposals submitted for vetting 33 projects on the final ballot 12 projects funded

18 Greensboro s Five Districts our office

19 280,801 Greensboro s Population, 2014

20 1,091 people Attended 36 Greensboro PB events

21 PB Survey Highlights 157 Surveys Collected 42% did not or could not report in which district the lived District 1 23% District 2 23% District 3 11% District 4 26% District 5 17%

22 A look at survey respondents Race 41% African American/Black 54% White Gender 59% Female 41% Male Income 21% with household income less than $25,000 49% with household income less then $50,000 Education Longevity Age 26% with associate s degree or less 74% with bachelor s or graduate education 39% have lived in Greensboro 7 or fewer years 93% born in the US 51% years old 49% 35+ years old

23 What 157 residents surveyed say about PB benefits (n=115) and shortcomings (n=52) GREAT IDEAS 36% of the comments expressed appreciation for hearing other ideas for community improvement. INTERACTION 29% of the comments remarked on the enjoyment of interacting with others. CITY & FACILITATORS 35% of the comments appreciated the education and opportunity to work with the city to make improvements. ADD PROGRAMS 10% want programs, not just capital projects. BETTER OUTREACH 34% of the comments suggested more marketing would have brought in more people to the process and even more education is needed in the meetings. MORE TIME/BETTER STRUCTURE 56% of comments suggested improvements for space, meeting process, and desire for more time to brainstorm ideas.

24 Issues or Problems of Concern to PB Participants 49% Beautification, environment 46% Public transportation 46% Parks and recreation 43% Potholes, sidewalks, street repairs 38% Food security, hunger

25 Connection to their Community 64% believe they have no to some ability to make the community better 71% have no to some trust in elected leaders

26 Involvement with Greensboro s City Budget Process Have you previously attended a city-hosted budget meeting? 3% 13% 84% No Yes Unsure

27 How did you hear about PB? 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Community group Online, Facebook Family or a friend How did you hear about PB? TV, newspaper, radio

28 Things to Consider City s resources and capacity to support PB Administrative costs including staff time Community interest Political support PB is not a quick win Grassroots campaign lasted three years On-going, inclusive citizen outreach is challenging

29 Opportunities for success More people engaged in budgeting decisions Culture shift away from blind efficiency towards inclusion and fairness Better interactions between City Staff and residents Residents creating ways to solve problems Transparency Bottom-up grassroots campaign made PB possible and provides a foundation of community support

30 We all have an obligation to take care of our community. We all can make a difference. --GSO PB Participant

31 FOR MORE INFO WEBSITE TWITTER FACEBOOK facebook.com/participatorybudgetingproject WEBSITE TWITTER FACEBOOK Facebook.com/PBGreensboro

32 Thanks Any questions? Spoma Jovanovic: Vincent Russell: Karen Kixmiller: