September 29th, 2026
Dear Neighbors,
Fall is upon us, and so is the annual 30th Ward participatory budget!
We hope you can join us tomorrow evening, in person or virtually, for our first Participatory Budget meeting of 2026!
September 30th, 2026
6pm-7pm
The Becoming Center - 3249 N Kilpatrick
Virtual
Zoom ID: 898 9815 3032
Passcode: 940481
Participatory budgeting (PB) is an innovative democratic process that allows community members to directly decide how to allocate public funds. In the 30th Ward, Alderwoman Cruz uses PB for three reasons:
Community Involvement: 30th Ward residents propose and vote on projects, ensuring that funding addresses local priorities.
Transparency: PB allows greater transparency and accountability in how public funds are spent.
Empowerment: By providing neighbors a say in budget decisions, PB empowers communities and strengthens civic engagement.
Funding for participatory budgeting projects come from the ward's annual "menu" money, which is the $1.5 million provided annually in the City budget to each ward. Individual alders decide how to spend that money on infrastructure projects, with some alders using PB to allocate βmenuβ funds.
For 2026, 30th Ward residents will be asked to vote to allocate up to $500,000 in PB funds. The first round of voting, in September and October, asks residents what percentage of those funds to devote to the four categories of this yearβs participatory budget:
The first voting round also asks residents to suggest projects and locations in each of those categories. When this round is complete, the 30th Ward Office will compile all the suggestions, ensure a geographical balance of projects, and ask residents to vote for specific projects on the second and final ballot in November and December.
Please vote on the first ballot here and spread the word! All 30th Ward residents 16 or older are welcome to participate.
