Vote for how city funding should be spent in your neighborhood

Have a say in how $35M in public funds is spent this year

How would you spent public dollars in your neighborhood? With participatory budgeting, you have the chance to weigh in on that question.

Participatory budgeting—now in its eighth year in New York City—allows community members to vote on whether to fund neighborhood upgrades proposed by residents in a months-long process of public meetings. This year's round of voting kicked off Sunday, March 30 and will run until April 7.

Those who reside in the 32 New York City Council district participating in the process can vote online and in select physical polling sites to determine how some $35 million is spent. Funds can go toward a variety of projects including public school renovations, road repairs, and nonprofit aid.

Last year, more than 99,000 people living in the five boroughs participated in the civic engagement program, which strives to make the city's budgeting process more transparent, and decided how to spend $36.6 million across the city—124 community improvement project for parks, public housing, libraries and more were funded, says the city. For an idea of what was funded through participatory budgeting last visit the City Council's website.

Since 2012, city dwellers have worked to allocate $210 million on 706 projects, according to the city.

To vote this year, New Yorkers must be at least 11-years-old and live within a participating district (find your district and vote here.)