We've heard a little bit about citizen participation in CIB budgeting and on site councils in St. Paul - however, I'd like to share a little bit about what I'm hearing at this workshop, to spark some more discussion in my hometown.
Now, keep in mind, I'm meeting with folks from Uganda, South Africa, Chile, Peru, Columbia, and 13 other countries - so the context of much of this is far different from St. Paul. I'm not suggesting that this applies directly to our city, but I do think its worth thinking about. The NRP program in MPLS applies some of these principles to work being done across the river.
http://www.nrp.org/
The example of Porto Allegre (site of this workshop) is world famous, for the system of participatory budgeting that they have implemented and exercised for almost 16 years.
http://www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/urban/urb_age/porto.htm http://www.naledi.org.za/pubs/2000/indicator/article9.htm
Unfortunately, I don't have all the numbers at my fingertips - but, approximately 10% of the city budget is allocated towards the citizen budgeting process. A process over which citizens have a huge role in identifying priorities and deciding which projects will get funded.
Citizens begin by meeting in very local meeting and discussing the needs and priorities of their local communities, these initial meetings are open to anyone. From these lowest level meetings, delegates are elected to advance slowly for 2-3 levels of meetings. At the final level, a group of citizens chosen by their peers to represent them, meet in a citizens budget council and make specific project recommendations for the city. Money is divided up by districts, with some districts that have greater needs or denser populations, getting even more money.
Then, the money is allocated towards the issue areas prioritized by the citizens early in the process - and applied towards specific projects chosen by a council elected by the citizens. The mayor can veto specific projects, but apparently knows better than to exercise that veto.
I've spoken to a number of researchers who are confident that this process has resulted in ensuring that many of the poor areas of town got paved roads, water and sewage service, and community services - that they would not have gotten otherwise.
I'm wondering how fair our system is at making sure that money for capital improvements is distributed throughout our city? To what extent our some neighborhoods favored over others? Are some populations being shut out of citizen participation systems in our city? If so, then who? And what can we do to address this problem?
Just a few of the things that I'm thinking about. If anyone would like to hear more about Porto Alegre when I return, I'd be happy to talk.
Best wishes,
Tim Erickson Hamline Midway [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-- ================================================= Tim Erickson http://www.politalk.com St. Paul, MN - USA 651-643-0722 [EMAIL PROTECTED] iChat/AIM: stpaultim =================================================
_____________________________________________
To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________
NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
