The applications submitted so far concern the city’s aesthetics, repairs and modernization of local roads, the construction of traffic lights, and improvements to facilities at cultural institutions and schools in Jelenia Góra.

The participatory budget is gradually becoming part of the operating mechanisms of Jelenia Góra’s local government. To begin with, a few points of information. First, participation means taking part. Second, thanks to the participatory budget, city residents can take part in planning local expenditure. Third, the authorities of Jelenia Góra are making part of the budget available to residents, who decide for themselves what to spend the money on by taking part in identifying the most urgent expenditures and submitting their own proposals, thereby gaining a greater role in overseeing public spending.

Unlike public consultations, under the model proposed by the Mayor of Jelenia Góra, decisions made by the residents of Jelenia Góra will be binding on him. The gradual and cautious approach to the participatory budget in recent years stems from responsibility for the city’s sustainable development and, above all, the desire to avoid the mistakes made by other local governments. The most important thing, however, remains unchanged: enabling residents to have their say on matters that are important to them.

Basic rules of the Jelenia Góra Participatory Budget for 2015:

  1. PLN 1.5 million is available to the residents of Jelenia Góra
  2. the projects and tasks concern the entire city. Proposals may be either “hard” or “soft”—for example, a road or street renovation, or the organization of a festival, vernissage, and so on, may be submitted.
  3. After formal verification and receiving a recommendation from the Social Opinion Committee, the projects submitted by residents will be put to a public vote. All adult residents of Jelenia Góra, as well as students and pupils aged 18 or over who are not residents of Jelenia Góra but study here, will be able to vote on the submitted projects from September 29 to October 12.
  4. The mayor will include all winning projects in Jelenia Góra’s 2015 budget submitted to the City Council for adoption.

By proposing the Participatory Budget, the mayor seeks to expand residents’ ability to influence changes in Jelenia Góra themselves. Activities surrounding the budget may provide a foundation for building civic awareness and Jelenia Góra’s social capital. That is, after all, what the process of creating the budget mechanisms is about.

There is little time left until September 14 this year—the deadline for submitting projects and tasks to the Participatory Budget. Those willing to take on the task are encouraged to review the requirements and then get involved in the project.

Jelenia Góra City Hall/ii