PURPOSE The objectives of participatory budgeting are: •
To ensure that the finances of the local government are properly accounted for and thus decrease the potential for abuse by individuals both within and outside the system.
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To involve the community, including the lower-income neighbourhoods of the city, in the priority-setting and budgeting process.
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To enhance local democratic culture, nurture civic engagement, and stimulate the development of social capital.
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TRANSPARENCY
Participatory budgeting is an innovation by cities to engage directly with citizens, eliminating the “party politics” that undermines representative democracy in many countries. By involving communities in identification of priorities and allocation of resources, local governments can respond more effectively to the needs of their communities. The process enhances transparency by sharing information and holding decision makers accountable to the public at large, builds trust and improves the quality of governance in the city.
HOW
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WORKS – THE KEY ELEMENTS
Value of the participatory budget. Municipalities may identify clearly the proportion of the budget subject to the participatory budgeting process, either before the process of participatory budgeting (generally voted by the Municipal Council), or after the process, based on the demands and on the municipal resources available. It is possible to establish in both cases a relationship between the budget discussed and effectively put into practice and the municipal budget implemented. However, it is important to note here that in certain municipalities it may not be easy to establish figures directly attributed to Participatory Budgeting process. This is due to the fact that the values may be only symbolic, or proportionally low compared to the total municipal budget. Participation. The success of the participatory budgeting process is based on the extent of popular participation – whether individual participation or community-based participation/ representation. One of the main characteristics of participatory budgets in Brazilian cities is the acknowledgement of one’s right to participate individually and directly, and not necessarily through representatives of communities, unions or other associations. The number of participants in thematic and neighbourhood plenary meetings may vary from time to time or from one year to another. Encouraging the participation of minority groups. To serve one of the fundamental principles of participatory budgeting, it is imperative to explore means of effectively including minorities and diverse groups of people both in the process and in its benefits. Such diversity should take into account, for instance, issues of gender, ethnicity and age groups. However, noting that participatory budgets are built fundamentally on territorial spaces (districts, neighbourhoods, regions of the participatory budget, etc.), thematic entry points will be specific to each city. Thematic committees to approach issues that are specific to vulnerable groups are also a good mechanism to elicit their participation and ensure that their priorities are included. The thematic committee of social inclusion as found in the City of Caxias do Sul, where issues related to youngsters and women are discussed, is one such example. Alternatively, actor-specific U R B A N
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