Participation, Baby! How Some Cities Are Experimenting With A Community Budget Process

California State Of Mind

As tensions over racial and economic inequality continue to play out across the country, many people are wondering about the balance of power within their cities and institutions, and how those places spend their money. Some argue that citizens should play a greater role in deciding how to spend their tax dollars instead of relying on city leaders.

The city of Vallejo launched an experiment with citizen budgeting about a decade ago. How is that working out? CapRadio’s News and Features Editor Pauline Bartolone became obsessed with participatory budgeting while covering this story and she joins Nicole and Nigel to explain why.