Vote on Participatory Budget Capital Project Proposals Mar. 22-28

If you're a Cambridge resident age 12 or older, YOU can VOTE on how to spend $500,000 in FY16 Capital Funds to improve the community! In December 2014, the City of Cambridge launched the Participatory Budgeting (PB) initiative inviting community members to share ideas on projects to improve Cambridge. 

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process through which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Cambridge’s pilot PB project will for the first time, directly involve residents in the budgeting and city-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the city’s Capital Plan reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents.

From January-March, over 40 volunteer Budget Delegates evaluated the 380 ideas that were submitted, and developed project proposals to meet community needs.   From March 22-28, 2015 Cambridge residents are invited to vote on which projects will get funded!  Projects on the ballot will be for capital improvements related to:

• Culture & Community Facilities
• Environment, Public Health & Public Safety
• Parks & Recreation
• Streets & Sidewalks 

Each voter can select 5 projects on the ballot, regardless of the amount they add up to.  The city will allocate $500,000 for the winning projects.  Vote week begins with a kickoff event Sunday, Mar. 22, from 2-4 p.m., at Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway.  Residents will be able to talk with Budget Delegates and view project displays at two Project Expos on Tuesday, Mar. 24, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at Windsor Street Health Center, 119 Windsor St., and on Saturday, Mar. 28, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., during the Winter Farmers’ Market at Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St.  Paper ballots at voting events will be available in English, Haitian Creole, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Residents can also vote online, as long as they have a cell phone.  Online voting will be text message authenticated.  Voters will enter their cell phone number online and then will receive a code via text that must be entered for one-time access to the ballot.  A link to the online ballot on the Participatory Budget webpage will be made available during the voting period March 22-28, 2015. The online ballot will be available in English and Spanish.

For information on project proposals on the ballot and a full list of voting dates and locations, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/yourbudget.