This study will assess the feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of participatory budgeting (PB) as a mode of civic engagement to improve health outcomes and advance equity for racially and ethnically marginalized communities, using “The People’s Money” initiative as the first city-wide test of a participatory budgeting intervention for New York City. The intervention allows community residents to decide how to spend allocated Mayoral funds on projects to address prioritized needs within communities. The intervention aims to dismantle systemic racism that excludes racially and ethnically marginalized communities from having voice in policy decisions regarding the allocation of public resources to priority health and social needs. Launched in 2022, this PB intervention includes four key elements: (1) idea generation workshops that allow residents to learn about the city budget cycle, identify community needs, brainstorm project ideas, and propose ideas directly through an online platform; (2) ballot development that engages randomly selected, demographically representative volunteers in borough assembly committees to select ideas to be placed on the ballot; (3) citywide voting that is open to all residents aged 11 and older, regardless of immigration status, to vote on selected projects; and (4) project implementation that allows CBOs to propose how they will operationalize selected projects and work with city government to develop, implement, and evaluate projects. 

The mixed-method research design includes surveys of participating board members and community residents before and after each phase of the PB process to assess perceptions about the feasibility, acceptability, and perceived value of the PB intervention using validated survey instruments. Qualitative interviews and focus groups with board members and community residents will capture more detailed experiences with the PB implementation process. Finally, raw data from citizen-submitted project ideas will be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively using a participatory sense-making process.

Principal Investigators: 
Benjamin Solotaire
Senior Advisor, NYC Civic Engagement Commission

Nita Vangeepuram, MD, MPH
General Pediatrician, Clinical Researcher, and Associate Professor, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Project Details:

Year: 2025
Funding Amount: $200,000
Status: Active