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City of Milwaukee Budget Can Be Improved by Involving the Public

City of Milwaukee Budget Can Be Improved by Involving the Public

Sakege06 mins

The Milwaukee Common Council has the opportunity to create lasting change this budget cycle.

David Anderson
| Special to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Participatory budget It is a democratic innovation that has taken off in recent years. It gives communities a say in how public funds are spent. If done right, it can be used to address systemic inequalities, foster economic empowerment, and create thriving communities. The Milwaukee Common Council must take note and act now with the mayor’s budget for 2025 low consideration.

Participatory budgeting empowers residents and helps elevate historically marginalized voices to make decisions about how city ​​budgets They are worn out. It democratizes decision-making and elevates voices that would otherwise be excluded from traditional budgeting systems. It empowers citizens, creates a sense of ownership and gives people real decision-making power over public funds.

Opinion: How do we rebuild trust? A simple answer is to ask people what is the best way to spend money.

Knowing this, he African American Roundtable launched his ReleaseMKE campaign in 2019 to demand that city officials establish this type of process in Milwaukee. After years of mobilization, without success, we launched our own participatory program to increase security on Milwaukee’s northwest side. We invested $40,000 in four organizations that supported young people, the elderly and single mothers. The results were exactly what we knew we would be.

Organizations with programs that benefit the community won

More than 5,000 people on the northwest side were positively affected. More than 850 people voted in the program and had a direct say in which projects won. The winners, Brentwood Church of Christ, Korey’s children, BYOCHI and We lock ourselves in MKEThey held events or launched initiatives that benefited their communities.

For example, Brentwood Church of Christ renewed its church kitchen that will host events and feed seniors on the northwest side for many years to come. This community investment can last and impact lives beyond our program.

Opinion: I found some “forgotten” Americans. Please listen to them.

If we could do this with $40,000, can you imagine what the city of Milwaukee could do with billions in the city budget?

I know, change can be scary. But you know what’s even scarier? Milwaukee residents live in desperation and do not have what they need to thrive and the fact that statistics say Milwaukee is one of the worst places for blacks to live compared to the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the country.

Participatory budgeting is used in Wisconsin and across the country

cities like chicago, New York, Boston, Durham, North Carolinaand even clear water In our own state they have shown what is possible when we invest in participatory budgeting and give residents a real say in how public funds are spent.

Can you imagine how wonderful it would be if Milwaukee residents could nominate, vote on, and help implement programs and initiatives to improve the quality of life for all residents? AART’s vision has always been more green spaces, ample opportunities for our young people, and investments in public health and affordable housing. All this – and more – is within our reach if we get the public to participate.

Opinion: Wisconsin will vote on a referendum question on November 5. Like others, it’s confusing.

Milwaukee has a chance to make history. The time is now.

We hope that our program can serve as a model of what is possible when we refuse to accept the status quo and dare to dream. Our participatory budgeting program inspired the Northwest Side, but now the Common Council has the opportunity to empower the entire city by creating a participatory fund so residents’ voices can be heard.

Devin Anderson is the campaign and membership director for the African American Roundtable.

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