Boston Residents Determining How The City Spends Its Money

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — For the first time, the city of Boston is putting aside $2 million of its budget money and allowing residents to determine how best to spend it.

It's called 'Boston Participatory Budgeting,' and while it has some ground rules, the program's manager Renato Castelo said it puts the responsibility of managing a part of the city's budget directly in the hands of people in the community. "This process is open to any Boston resident to submit ideas and participate," he said. "It comes down to people feeling like they have a voice to make decisions and to be heard."

Residents submit their ideas on how to spend the money.

Some of the ideas range from supporting mental health programs to fixing a sidewalk.

And there are some departments not participating in the program such as the MBTA and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The deadline for budget ideas is next week, and voting on the top ideas will be in January.

WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.

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