What Projects Should Freehold Borough Fund? Voting Now Open

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ — Voting is now open for Freehold Borough's annual Participatory Budgeting Contest, where residents and local business owners can vote on projects they want to see implemented around town.

Each year, the borough's Participatory Budgeting Committee hosts this contest so community members can submit project ideas that meet local needs in the borough.

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The budgeting process aims to empower residents and local business owners through civic engagement and directly involve the community in the budgeting and city-building process.

For this year's contest, three potential projects have been proposed. The project submissions include:

• Connecting Steps: Install natural-looking connecting steps between Veterans Park and Edgewood Drive. Include cost-effective solar lighting to improve safety and visibility at dusk. (Projected cost: $80,000)
• Wilson Field Little League Complex Sound System: With zoned paving and wireless microphone. (Projected cost: $65,000)
• Liberty Park Grandstands/Bleachers: Grandstands/Bleachers at the basketball courts at Liberty Park. Four, four-row grandstands/bleachers placed at the basketball courts so spectators have seats during games. (Projected cost: $54,000)

Freehold Borough residents aged 14 or over and Freehold Borough business owners are eligible to vote in the contest.

Residents will vote on up to three proposals either online (English Ballot and Spanish Ballot) or with a paper ballot in English or Spanish.

Once a project is approved, it will be included in the funding for the Borough's annual budget. The budget is limited to $200,000.

Voting will take place from Sept. 17 through Oct. 15.

The winning projects will be announced at a Borough Council Meeting held at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 19 at Borough Hall, on social media and posted in Borough Hall.

To learn more, you can visit the Freehold Borough Participatory Budgeting Committee website.