National and Local Precedence for Democratic Tool, Participatory Budgeting
The budget process in Buffalo has been historically opaque. Involvement in city finances by community is often limited to submitting a ballot for council and mayoral candidates. But systems, including government, can be modified to encourage constituent engagement.
One such idea that has been implemented across municipalities in North America and previously in Buffalo is participatory budgeting (PB). A free public workshop, Taking Control of Public Dollars, was held on September 16th to increase understanding of this democratic tool. Organized by Buffalo Commons in conjunction with Buffalo Niagara Community Reinvestment Coalition, a main message emerged that the PB process increases equity and inclusion.
Kristania De Leon of the national Participatory Budget Project (PBP) reflected broadly on PB including stages towards enactment, funding mechanisms, and community experience. In Oakland, CA, PBP evaluated that residents enjoyed the experience of having input in funding decisions.
Utilizing Community Development Block Grant funding, Oakland residents voted to spend the money on meal programs, job training for youth, housing and legal services, and on street safety including lighting, security cameras, and cross walks.
“We’ve been involved in the expansion of participatory practices recognizing and understanding that there’s a need for justice transformation to be led with the voices of those who have been most impacted by these systems. Participatory practices seem to be a way to really elevate those voices and perspectives in policy change and decision making.” said De Leon.
Harper Bishop who served on the committee for Participatory Budgeting Buffalo described how PB was previously included in the Buffalo City budget in 2015 through a campaign led by Clean Air Coalition of WNY including activists Natasha Soto and Erin Heaney. In 2016, residents of Buffalo’s Masten District voted on how to spend $150,000 of Councilmember Wingo’s discretionary funding.
Voting took place over a week’s time at libraries and community centers and was open to all members of the community 16 and up. Bishop describes “[PB] is all about voter engagement and civic engagement, and trying to bring people into the process, not trying to exclude them on purpose.”
In 2017, $10,000 of Councilmember Rivera’s discretionary funding was voted on how to be spent by Niagara District residents. Ultimately, the practice of PB fizzled out without re-adoption by the City in 2018. Bishop notes the clear, reignited relevance of PB in Buffalo given enduring police harm and violence against the Black community.
A full video of the workshop and accompanying slides are available on the event page here (https://ppgbuffalo.org/news-and-events/events/event:09-16-2020-12-00pm-buffalo-commons-workshop-taking-control-of-public-dollars/).