Million-Dollar Question: Neighbors Reveal Local Spending Plans Saturday

After months of hard work, residents in the 46th ward are ready to present their plans for how to spend $1 million of the ward’s money on improving the community.

It’s all part of Ald. James Cappleman’s (46th) participatory budgeting program, something he launched back in October that lets residents have input on government spending.

Groups were tasked with creating detailed presentations for how to spend the money, with a focus on popular initiatives like community beautification and adding bike-friendly infrastructure improvements.

Now the groups will present their plans to the public in hopes of snagging their vote for their ideas. From 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, the projects will be on display at Uplift High School at 900 W. Wilson Ave. The same expo will take place again on Monday from 6-8 p.m. at the Preston Bradley Center at 941 W. Lawrence Ave.

“It’s kind of like a big science fair to show you the various proposals that they developed.”

After seeing the different presentations, anyone 16 or older in the 46th ward—which covers a large portion of northern Lake View—can cast a vote for their favorite improvement plan between April 27 and May 5.

“Streets and cycling is one group, beautification is another group,” explained Amy Karatz at a recent East Lake View Neighbors meeting, saying there are multiple different groups focusing on different ways to spend the money.

“It’s kind of like a big science fair to show you the various proposals that they developed,” Karatz continued.

According to ward officials, Ald. Joe Moore of the 49^th Ward in Rogers Park was the first to implement the program where residents decide how to spend their tax dollars.

In years past, the 49^th ward has voted to spend almost $200,000 on new bike lanes, $150,000 on sidewalk repair, and $75,000 to plant more than 100 trees in parks, among other things.

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