Democracy at the Dollar Level: How Cities Are Letting Residents Vote on Real Spending Decisions
A growing number of American cities are moving beyond traditional public comment periods and handing residents direct control over a portion of the municipal budget. Participatory budgeting programs allow community members to propose, deliberate on, and vote for specific projects—turning civic engagement from a formality into a genuine exercise of financial power. Here is a look at where this model is working, what challenges it faces, and how your city could adopt it.