Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of the public budget, also known as the “menu”. “Menu money” is ward-specific money that aldermen allocate to specific needs across the ward. Alderman Nugent has set $500,000 aside every year for Participatory Budgeting. Check out the funded projects from cycles one, two, and three under each cycle’s page.

PB in the 39th Ward is a three-step process:

1. Idea Collection – Residents submit infrastructure project ideas that they would like to be funded from the 39th Ward’s Infrastructure Improvement Funds.
2. Review of Infrastructure Project Ideas – The PB Committee reviews infrastructure project ideas and determines what projects will be on the community ballot.
3. Community Vote – 39th Ward Residents, aged 14 years and older, vote on the community ballot. The infrastructure projects that receive the most votes, which add up to $500,000, will be funded.

Our office has partnered with PB Chicago to develop a new online forum to collect ideas, share information, and vote.

The last three cycles of PB have been a great success and we are excited for another great year.

Please call Alderman Nugent’s Office at
773.736.5594 or email ward39@cityofchicago.org if you have any questions.