Cambridge Gives Residents an Opportunity to Vote on How to Spend a Record-High $2 Million and Improve the City Through Capital and Operating Projects

The City of Cambridge is excited to once again invite community members to vote on projects aimed at improving the city as part of the 10th Participatory Budgeting (PB) process. From March 7 to March 17, 2024, all Cambridge residents aged 12 and older, including all 6^th graders and university students, will have the opportunity to participate. This year, the City has allocated a record-high $2 million for the PB Cycle, doubling the previous budget of $1 million. The increased funding will enable the implementation of more projects that benefit the public and align the FY25 Budget with the priorities of Cambridge residents and local partners.

To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, the City has expanded the types of projects eligible for PB funding to include both capital and operating projects. Projects must cost $2 million or less, be consistent with existing City policies, and be implemented by the City of Cambridge.

Community members can vote three ways:

• Online: Vote at pb.cambridgema.gov
• Phone: Call the City of Cambridge Budget Office at (617)-349-4270. Regular business hours are Monday 8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
• In-person: Visit PB voting locations. See the full schedule at pb.cambridgema.gov/pbevents

Paper ballots are also available through the Budget Office, which is located in Cambridge City Hall, during regular business hours. Online and paper ballots are available in English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, Amharic, Arabic, and Bangla. 

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process that empowers community members to decide how to spend part of a public budget. In Cambridge, the intention is for Participatory Budgeting to directly involve residents in the budgeting and city-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the City’s budget reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents and local partners.

Projects are eligible for Participatory Budgeting funding if they:

• Benefit the public
• Cost $2 million or less
• Are either a capital project with a one-time expenditure on City property, or an operating project with a fixed duration of up to three years
• Are consistent with existing City policies
• Are implemented by the City of Cambridge
• Are implemented after July 1, 2024 (the start of fiscal year 2025)

Past winning PB projects have included public art murals, youth center upgrades, laundry access in Cambridge Public Schools, pedestrian-controlled crosswalk lights, accessible swings in City parks, and many others. 

Last cycle, a record 8,707 Cambridge residents aged 12 and older voted to decide how to allocate Participatory Budgeting funding to address community needs. That participation was a 15% increase from the previous cycle. Since the inaugural process in 2014, the City of Cambridge has collected more than 7,000 ideas, counted more than 56,000 votes, and committed nearly $7.5 million to Participatory Budgeting projects across nine cycles. With this cycle marking the tenth PB process in Cambridge, the City aims to collect 10,000 votes, and it is calling on community members to help spread the word and get-out-the-vote.

In September and October 2023, community members submitted over 1,100 ideas on how to spend $2 million of the City of Cambridge’s FY25 Budget. From October 2023 to January 2024, over 70 volunteer PB Delegates researched and developed those ideas into 20 final proposals for the PB ballot. After voting closes, the City invites community members to attend the PB10 vote results party in the Sullivan Chamber at Cambridge City Hall on Thursday, March 21 from 6-7:30 p.m. where the winning projects will be announced. This event is free and open to members of the community. Food and drinks will be provided.

For more information about PB and how you can vote, please visit pb.cambridgema.gov, contact the City of Cambridge Budget Office at 617-349-4270, or email pb@cambridgema.gov

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