Idea Submission for Somerville's Participatory Budgeting Process Ends Tomorrow 5/20

All ideas for Somerville's first-ever Participatory Budgeting process are due by end of day Saturday, May, 20, 2023. This is also the deadline for residents interested in becoming a Budget Delegate volunteer to submit their applications. 

Idea Submissions
Throughout the idea submission phase, residents can submit their ideas online, over the phone, and in person.

• Online: www.somervillema.gov/PB
• Phone: City Budget office at 617-863-6622 or 311 (dial 311 or 617-666-3311) 
• In Person: Submission forms are available for pickup at City Hall (93 Highland Ave.) and Somerville’s public libraries (www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/library/hours-locations).
   

Budget Delegate Volunteers
The time commitment for Budget Delegates will consist of an orientation meeting (about two hours), tentatively scheduled for June 15. Then ten recurring, in-person, meetings will take place on Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. starting in June and ending in August. 

To apply, please complete the application here: bit.ly/BudgetDelegateApp or call 617-625-6600 ext. 2107 with any questions or to receive a paper application.
 

Timeline

The Participatory Budgeting process will be divided into three parts: 

1. First, from March 20 through May 20, residents develop and submit their ideas for funding. We’ll create opportunities for residents to learn what qualifies and to bounce around ideas with fellow community members. We encourage you to workshop your ideas with others. Participatory Budgeting processes in other cities and towns often work best when residents listen to each other and collaborate with one another.
2. Next, during Summer 2023, submissions will be carefully reviewed by Budget Delegate volunteers, and Somerville City staff. Category-specific subcommittees will evaluate each idea’s need, impact, feasibility, and cost to determine the 20 ideas that will be presented for Somerville residents to vote on in the fall. 
3. Finally, from September 13 through October 13, Somerville residents ages 12 and older can vote for which ideas they’d like to be funded. The ideas with the most votes will be implemented by the City starting in October 2023, and will be funded until the $1 million is completely spent.
    

How Somerville Residents Can Get Involved

Throughout the Participatory Budgeting process, the community is invited to get involved via a wide array of volunteer and community engagement opportunities. Residents interested in getting hands-on experience are especially encouraged to apply to volunteer as Budget Delegates. Volunteers in this role will work directly with City staff to review idea submissions and determine which will be voted on by their fellow residents. 

The time commitment for Budget Delegates will consist of an orientation meeting (about two hours), tentatively scheduled for June 15. Then ten recurring, in-person, meetings will take place on Thursday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. starting in June and ending in August. 

General volunteer opportunities are also available to help get the word out and share the eligibility guidelines via outreach activities including stopping by businesses and knocking on home doors, event tabling, public speaking, and more. 

Sign up to receive the Participatory Budgeting E-Newsletter to stay on top of all the process news, events, dates, and volunteer opportunities: www.somervillema.gov./PB

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Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.