Treyger reveals top choices in participatory budget election

May 14, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Councilmember Mark Treyger says he believes strongly in the participatory budget process. Photo courtesy Treyger’s office

Councilmember Mark Treyger. Photo courtesy of Treyger’s office

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When Councilmember Mark Treyger works with his City Hall colleagues to finalize the new city budget, he’ll know exactly what his constituents want. And that’s because they told him.

Treyger (D-Coney Island-Gravesend-Bensonhurst) is one of 24 councilmembers taking part in the city’s participatory budgeting process in which elected officials give constituents in their districts the opportunity to decide which capital projects they want the city to fund in the budget.

The funds usually come out of a councilmember’s discretionary budget.

Treyger invited participants to suggest ideas for projects that could be funded out of the $1 million he had set aside from his discretionary budget and then asked constituents to vote for their favorites. The voting took place in April. Nearly 1,000 local residents came out to vote, according to Treyger’s office.

This week, Treyger announced that the top project involved technology upgrades in local schools.

As a result of the voting, P.S. 128, P.S. 101 and P.S/I.S. 228 will receive $225,000 for technology upgrades.

Constituents also voted to spend $400,000 to repair streets in Community Board 13 (Gravesend and Coney Island). In addition, a bus stop outside Coney Island Hospital at Ocean Parkway and Avenue Z will be improved and reconfigured with $500,000.

“I decided to bring participatory budgeting to the district for the first time ever in order to give residents a real say in how their tax dollars are reinvested in their community. Residents truly know their block and neighborhood best, so it only makes sense to give them a voice in the annual budgeting process,” Treyger said a statement.

Treyger was impressed by the turnout.

“It was great to see so many of our neighbors attend meetings and suggest ideas to improve their community and to have hundreds of residents cast their vote and take part in this initiative,” he said.

Treyger also said he is working with various city agencies to discuss funding for some of the other projects that appeared on the final ballot but did not receive enough votes.

Under participatory budgeting, everyday New Yorkers get to vote on which capital projects from their councilmembers’ discretionary budgets they would like funded. Residents in the 24 participating districts got to vote on how to spend a total of $25 million.

Over the past several months, councilmembers worked with two nonprofit groups, Participatory Budgeting Project and Community Voices Heard, to set up budgeting mechanisms and to engage constituents in the process.

Councilmember Carlos Menchaca (D-Sunset Park-Red Hook) also took part in the process. In his district, the winning project also involved technology for schools.

An ambitious $965,000 proposal to upgrade technology in P.S. 1, Middle School 88, P.S. 676, P.S. 105, P.S. 310, P.S. 69 and New Voices Middle School was chosen by the voters.

Menchaca, who announced the winning projects on May 7, had set aside nearly half of his discretionary budget for participatory budgeting.