What is the People’s Budget?
Each year, 40th Ward residents have the opportunity to submit project proposals and vote on how we should spend $1M of infrastructure funds through the 40th Ward People’s Budget.
Every ward is allotted $1.5M to spend on infrastructure improvements. We reserve $500K of those funds for emergency repairs and other needs that arise throughout the year. The remaining $1M is allocated through a participatory budgeting process. Here’s what that process looks like:
40th Ward Residents submit proposals for new infrastructure projects they want to see in their neighborhoods.
The Participatory Budget Committee assesses each project proposal and chooses which projects will be on that year’s ballot
40th Ward residents ages 14 and up vote on which new projects we should fund for the following year.
It’s your money. You should have a voice in how we spend it.
We started the People’s Budget in 2020 because we had a vision to build a stronger community by giving neighbors a direct say on how we distribute public resources equitable distribution through a democratic and participatory process.
Video transcript
One million dollars in city funds is allocated to fix up infrastructure. How would you spend it? Chicago Alderman is asking you, his ward. CBS news’ Tara Molina is looking into the approach some aldermen are taking to get you more involved:
This is how the 40th Ward is engaging people.
Notices like this one direct you to an online ballot form where you can vote on projects and improvements for your neighborhood. Alderman Andre Vasquez refers to this as the People’s Budget. This menu money, given to all 50 Chicago aldermen each year, is specifically for ward infrastructure improvements, such as sidewalk repairs. Typically, aldermen would make these decisions themselves. However, Vasquez wanted to give those funds to the people to decide.
He puts one million of the ward’s 1.5 million in menu money up for a vote, saving half a million for a rainy day fund. “We say, ‘Hey, help us spend a million bucks,'” he explains. People who have never considered getting involved begin to do so and gain a better understanding of how government works and how much things cost.
Vasquez is one of the few aldermen who allows residents to have a say in exactly where the money goes for each particular cost. This process is called participatory budgeting, and in this case, it looks like a simple form. Residents of the ward can fill it out online, ranking which projects are most important to them and what they’d like to see in the coming year, with a cost assigned to each project.
So far, they have seen more than twice as many people vote this year. The number one project pick right now is tree planting, with fifty thousand bucks allocated towards planting trees. In the past, menu money has been controversial. In a 2019 audit, the city’s inspector general suggested taking the final say on infrastructure funding decisions away from aldermen and turning it over to the Chicago Department of Transportation.
You may remember that according to a federal grand jury’s indictment of Alderman Kerry Austin for bribery charges, she and her chief of staff allegedly misused the ward’s menu money to benefit a construction company. The idea behind participatory budgeting is that government should be accessible, transparent, and accountable. This is part of why Vasquez says it was a priority for him after being elected in 2019. It’s about moving forward in a way that changes government in Chicago and who it works for.
We heard back from a few other aldermen who choose to use their menu money in this way. More details are available in this story on our website. For some of you, there is still time to vote on the improvements you’d like to see in your neighborhood. Reporting downtown, I’m Tara Molina, CBS 2 News.
People’s Budget Project Timeline
The following represents the general timeline of our participatory budgeting process from the collection of ideas through implementation.
January – August
Project Proposals
Neighbors brainstorm the infrastructure projects they want to see in their communities.
August – October
Project Development
The People’s Budget Committee reviews project proposals and assesses them for viability. The 40th Ward Office requests cost estimates from city departments and the committee chooses a final ballot based on ward criteria.
November – December
Community Vote!
Residents of the 40th Ward (ages 14 and up) vote on how much of the $1 million in funds go towards repairs vs. new infrastructure projects, and which projects to fund.
January (following year)
Project Implementation
The 40th Ward Office coordinates with the appropriate agencies and departments to make the infrastructure upgrades YOU voted for!
View our archive of funded projects.
![Ald. Vasquez, staff and volunteers on a building site.](https://40thward.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/049B211B-2E51-4933-BA33-A6B1069228E5-scaled.jpg)
Get Involved
What improvements would you like to see in your community?
The People’s Budget depends on the input of neighbors like you! Here are some ways you can get involved:
- Submit your project proposal!
- Volunteer to join the People’s Budget Committee!
- Stay tuned: Voting will open this fall!
Open: June 1 through August 31, 2024
Submit a project proposal
Got an idea for an infrastructure project you want to see in the neighborhood?
Frequently Asked Questions
What projects are eligible to be considered for the People’s Budget?
To be considered for the People’s Budget ballot, a project must meet the following criteria:
- Location: it must be located within the 40th Ward on city-owned property (e.g. streets, sidewalks, city parks, public schools, or public libraries)
- Infrastructure: it must count as permanent infrastructure, which means it has to be a physical installation that will stand the test of time (at least five years). Programs like rat abatement, tree trimming, or park programming do not count as permanent infrastructure, nor do staffing expenses.
- Project vs. repair: it must be a community project vs an individual repair of existing infrastructure
- A repair is something that fixes existing infrastructure (e.g. residential street resurfacing, alley resurfacing, individual sidewalk repairs or curb and gutter replacement) and typically only impacts a specific address or block.
- A project tends to involve the installation or replacement of new infrastructure (e.g. workout equipment at the park, pedestrian refuge island, sidewalk replacement, etc.) as opposed to a repair of existing infrastructure. It also usually impacts a larger portion of the community (e.g. replacement of several blocks of sidewalk on a major street, as opposed to fixing the sidewalk in front of one property).
- Menu Repairs are projects that repair existing infrastructure (e.g. residential street resurfacing, alley resurfacing, individual sidewalk repairs or curb and gutter replacement, alley reconstruction).
- Cost: It must be something we’re able to afford to implement within our Menu budget of $1.5M
I have an idea! How do I submit a project proposal?
You can submit a project proposal. Proposals are open from January through August each year, so if the form is closed, hang tight until next year’s form opens!
I don’t have an idea for a project proposal, but my sidewalk needs to be repaired. How do I submit a repair request?
You can submit a repair request anytime! We accept potential menu repair projects on a rolling basis to supplement our own ward surveys, and we choose which repair projects to fund at the beginning of each year. If there is a repair in your neighborhood that you’d like us to consider, let us know! See more about the Menu repair program here.
Who decides which projects make it onto the final ballot?
The final ballot is chosen by the People’s Budget Committee, made up of 40th Ward neighbors like you! Here’s what that process looks like:
- The 40th Ward staff first assesses each proposal to make sure it’s viable (e.g. it’s in the ward, on public property, and counts as permanent infrastructure).
- Then, our People’s Budget Committee reviews each proposal and ranks it based on ward criteria to choose a list of semi-finalists.
- Once semi-finalists are chosen, 40th Ward staff will reach out to relevant City departments to price out each project.
- After we receive those estimates back, the People’s Budget Committee selects the final ballot, which usually consists of five project proposals.
I want to be on the People’s Budget Committee. How do I apply?
We’d love to have you! Submit a volunteer application and indicate your interest in the People’s Budget Committee!
What do you look for in a People’s Budget Project Proposal?
Great question! Check out this article for a full guide on what we look for in a successful project proposal. In addition to the basic eligibility criteria listed above, here are some of the qualities we look for:
- Equity: We want to make sure the projects we consider serve all of our neighbors, which means we ensure that we are covering all areas of the ward, and considering projects that may serve communities or areas of the ward that might not have seen as much investment in the past.
- Sustainability: Projects that benefit our natural environment, whether directly or indirectly, are a priority for our office.
- Accessibility: We believe that designing a project that accommodates a wide range of physical abilities makes it better for everyone.
- Pedestrian and Bike Safety: Public safety is the highest priority of our office, and infrastructure is a great way of making our community safer.
- Creativity: We like to see a project that demonstrates creative thinking, whether that’s a unique idea, or a project that supports our office’s vision of bringing public art to more of the ward.
How do you determine the winning project? Are you ever able to fund more than one project?
We use ranked-choice voting, in which neighbors rank each project from most to least favorable, to determine the winning project. The project(s) that receive the most support will be funded within the following year.
The amount of projects we’re able to fund depends on the percentage that voters choose to spend on repairs vs. special projects. Depending on the amount that we have left to spend on special projects, we can sometimes fund more than one project.
Who is eligible to vote in the People’s Budget?
Any 40th Ward resident ages 14 and up is eligible to vote!
How do I vote?
Voting typically opens the first week of November! We will post a link to the ballot at the top of this page once voting begins; in-person ballot boxes are also available at locations throughout the 40th Ward.
I voted in last year’s Participatory Budget. How come [project I voted for] hasn’t been installed yet?
Some projects take longer than others! If you’re curious about the status of a specific project, take a look at the archived Past People’s Budget Projects section.
- Once a winning project is chosen, the funds for that project are appropriated to the relevant city agency. Then that agency enters the design and build process, which can take anywhere from months to several years, depending on the project. Here are some of the factors that can cause delays:
- Complexity of the project: if a project involves several different agencies, or if it’s a project that involves a lot of logistics, e.g. traffic signals, it may take longer to be completed.
- Material shortages: Sometimes, material shortages may delay a project, e.g. if there is a concrete shortage.
- Conflicting work: there may be conflicting utility work on a street, which may mean that we have to wait until that work is completed for the project to be installed.
Ward offices receive $1.5M in Menu funds. How come we only get to vote on how to spend $1M of them?
We allocate $1M of Menu funds at the beginning of each year through our People’s Budget process. We reserve the remaining $500K to pay for any emergency repairs or urgent projects that come up throughout the year.
How much do People’s Budget projects cost?
Typically, the community votes to spend between 40-50% on special projects, which means that any given project would need to cost less than $500K. Costs vary per project, but you can get an idea of how much common infrastructure improvements cost using the table below.
Project | Price |
---|---|
Residential Street Resurfacing | $54,450 per block |
Alley Reconstruction | $300K per block |
Sidewalk Replacement | $115K per block |
Curb and Gutter Replacement | $115K per block |
Diagonal Parking | $90K per block |
Residential cul-de-sac | $50K per project |
Neighborhood Bike Greenway | $75K per half-mile |
Residential Traffic Circle | $20K per project |
Residential Bump-outs | $16K per pair |
Arterial Bump-outs | $60K per corner |
Pedestrian Refuge Island | $75K per island |
Protected Bike Lanes | $250K per half-mile |
Buffered Bike Lanes | $60K per half-mile |
Residential Street Lighting | $280K per block |
Traffic Signal (e.g. left turn arrow) | $50-150K per signal |
Previously funded
People’s Budget Projects
News & Updates: People’s Budget
Contact the 40th Ward Office
Our office works to ensure you feel supported, connected, and valued. Please reach out with any questions or concerns you may have—we are here to help!