Columbus City Council launched its new "participatory budget" pilot program, asking residents to suggest and vote on small projects using a small chunk of the city's multi-billion dollar budget.
While the city's budgeting process is already made available for residents to comment on and give input annually, the city council chose to earmark $9 million to dedicate to small, neighborhood-level projects. It's a drop in the bucket compared to the city's $2.7 billion total annual budget.
The effort comes at the same time as a group of residents back a similarly-named campaign to change how the city elects council members.
The "Our Voice, Our Choice" pilot program is accepting submissions from residents online. There are already dozens of submissions asking the city to consider new crosswalks, more trees or other small improvements.
Meanwhile, a group called "Our City Our Say" is wrapping up a signature collection campaign that could force a ballot issue in November, asking whether each of the nine city council members should be elected only by voters within their districts. Right now, each council member is elected by the whole city.
Council member Nick Bankston, during a Thursday press conference, told reporters the project isn't a way for the city to fend off the ballot campaign.
"(The name) is something that came directly from the residents. That's what the beauty of this is. I didn't even get a vote in it. I had some other names picked out, but they didn't take my advice anyway. But no, this has nothing to do with that," Bankston said.
Critics of the city backing the campaign argue the current system doesn't incentivize council members to listen to neighborhood-level concerns. They say changing the way council members are elected will make them more responsive to concerns of district residents.
The campaign has been present at Columbus' festivals, aiming to collect 25,000 signatures. It needs just under 13,000 valid signatures to make November's ballot.
Under the participatory budget program, each of the nine districts will get $1 million to spend on projects voted on by residents.
Residents can submit proposal ideas from now until Aug. 28 on the city's website.
After that, the city will spend roughly two months reviewing ideas and developing proposals. Residents can then vote on ideas from November to early December.
One idea already submitted involves a dedicated pedestrian signal on the Olentangy Trail at the corner of North Broadway and State Route 315. Another idea involves speed control on Oak Street in Olde Towne East.
Another idea wants the city to close North High Street to cars in the Short North Arts District from Poplar Alley to 5th Avenue in order to create a pedestrian-only area.
Bankston said small projects are the aim in asking for the public's input.
"Think about tangible community things like pocket parks or more trees or structural upgrades, say, to your rec center, safer sidewalks, things again that our residents get to touch and feel every single day," Bankston said.
The project is happening after Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin raised concerns about the city's budget and potential deficit spending to the tune of $9 million. When asked whether it is appropriate to spend $9 million as the city faces financial headwinds, Bankston said the city is working to close that deficit while still allowing for these kinds of projects.
Bankston pointed out the money comes from the capital budget, which is typically spent on large equipment purchases and infrastructure projects, while the potential deficit comes from the city's operating budget.
"Those dollars will be there, but we have to be able to do both, right? We have to be able to manage and close that deficit, but also continue to make critical investments in our community," Bankston said.
Lawrence Jackson, a member of the project's steering committee and a west side resident, said it's important that the city is being more collaborative.
"Your mind just goes rampant as to what I can see in my community, District 6, southwest Hilltop. There's so many things that we see on a day-to-day basis that could use a boost like this," Jackson said.
Bankston, Hardin and Council member Tiara Ross said they, along with their six colleagues on council, will work to get the word out to residents about how to participate in this budget initiative to help decide how the $9 million is spent.
