The City of Cambridge has launched the 11th cycle of Participatory Budgeting (PB11) and is seeking ideas from the community on how to spend $1 million on projects to improve Cambridge. The Idea Collection phase will be open from August 26, 2024 – October 1, 2024.
Winning projects from past PB cycles have included youth center upgrades, home essentials for newly housed residents, pollinator gardens, laundry access in public schools, and many others. Projects are eligible for funding if they meet the following criteria:
- Benefit the public
- Cost $1 million or less
- If capital project:
- One-time expenditure
- On City-owned property
- Projects on CHA, DCR, and MBTA property are not eligible.
- If operating project:
- Fixed project duration (up to 3 years)
- Consistent with existing City policies
- Implemented by the City of Cambridge
- Implemented after July 1, 2025 (the start of the next fiscal year)
Community members can also submit their ideas by emailing pb@cambridgema.gov; by calling the City’s Budget Office at 617-349-4270; dropping written ideas in the Payment Drop Box behind City Hall; or by mailing them to City of Cambridge Budget Office, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge MA 02139.
What is Participatory Budgeting?
Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process that empowers community members through civic engagement to decide how to spend part of a public budget. PB was first developed in Brazil in 1989 and is now used in over 1,500 cities around the world.
In Cambridge, PB aims to directly involve residents in the budgeting and city-building process, foster civic engagement and community spirit, and help ensure that the City’s budget reflects the priorities of Cambridge residents and local partners. Cambridge residents have allocated more than $9.5 million to PB projects since 2014.
Cambridge has launched its eleventh PB process in the fall of 2024! From September through October, community members will be invited to submit ideas for how to spend $1 million of the City's FY26 budget to improve Cambridge. The City is also calling for volunteer Participatory Budgeting Delegates, to join the PB process in working alongside other Cambridge residents and City staff to review and develop all submitted ideas into 20 project proposals to meet community needs. Visit the Volunteer page for more information on volunteering as a PB Delegate.
The vote for the PB11 cycle will take place in March 2025, where 20 project proposals will be turned back to Cambridge residents for a city-wide vote.
Join the PB Newsletter to receive the latest updates and information on the PB11 cycle!
Some website images are provided by the Participatory Budgeting Project.