Somerville Residents Can Now Send Ideas For $1M Participatory Budget

SOMERVILLE, MA – Somerville community members can now submit ideas for how the City should spend $1 million in public money for improvement projects through the historic Participatory Budget.

Community members ages 12 years and older can submit ideas online, by phone, in person at City Hall, or through all public library locations through May 20.

Community members can see a running list of ideas submitted by residents – such as adding more outdoor workout equipment, more bike lanes, and opening an overdose prevention site – on an interactive map through the online outreach channel.

The Participatory Budget is the first of its kind in Somerville and allows residents to propose and vote on projects for funding in the City’s budget.

Residents and community-based organizations will have the opportunity to have their voices heard, with the bulk of the budget directly allocated by Somerville residents, with a small amount going toward setting up and administering the program, the City said on its website.

Ideas will be reviewed by Budget Delegate volunteers and presented for Somerville residents to vote on later this fall.