Somerville Needs Residents For Participatory Budgeting Working Group

SOMERVILLE, MA — The City of Somerville is organizing a Participatory Budgeting Working Group to help plan what participatory budgeting will look like in the city.

“Participatory budgeting” means members of the public decide how to spend money in a public budget. Earlier this year, for the first time in Somerville, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne earmarked $1 million in the City’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget for participatory budgeting. Residents and community-based organizations will be able to propose and vote on priorities for those funds.

The Participatory Budgeting Working Group will establish guidelines and develop a process to roll out participatory budgeting in Somerville in an inclusive, equitable manner. Members will write policies, organize events, build outreach and engagement strategies, and create and disseminate informational materials.

The working group will consist of 11 residents and one City Councilor. Members should expect to meet for approximately 90 minutes weekly for eight weeks. These are volunteer positions.

Applications are due Friday, September 16. To apply, send a statement of interest to Megan Huckenpahler at pb@somervillema.gov or by mail to Participatory Budgeting, Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland Ave., Somerville MA 02143.

Anyone with questions can call Huckenpahler at 617-625-6600 ext. 2107.