Somerville Speaks On How It Should Spend Its Money

SOMERVILLE, MA — The Finance Committee has released results of its second participatory budgeting cycle, in which residents could vote on how $1 million would be dispersed to different initiatives.

The Committee expressed its satisfaction with the feedback, as it received more than 4,200 votes. The six choices were ranked in order of votes received. Afterschool program funding, worth $150,000, was the most popular. In second place, $270,000 to fund improvements to the city’s Nutrition Network and Food Coalition.

The remaining initiatives, listed in order, included $125,000 for public community compost, $400,000 for the city’s Bicycle Network Plan, $120,000 for rat control, and $30,000 for pollinator gardens.

The Finance Committee says it is still analyzing the feedback and is slated to do so publicly during its next meeting on Wednesday, June 4.