Participatory budgeting pilot project: online participation in the school building construction funding programme begins

The properties in need of refurbishment are presented on the internet platform, where users can vote and discuss them with each other. The refurbishment programme for the school buildings extends over the years 2013 and 2014 and has a volume of around 40 million euros in the city of Chemnitz. 24 million euros of this is the city's own contribution.

Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "With this pilot project, we are enabling Chemnitz residents to play a greater role in concrete decisions. The situation at schools is particularly close to our hearts - it is therefore important for us to know the wishes, opinions and comments, especially those of pupils and parents."

The support programme

The city of Chemnitz is receiving additional funding from the Free State of Saxony in the school building construction programme. In addition to the funding, 24 million euros will be provided by the city as its own funds. This means that an additional 40 million euros will be available for school building construction in the city in 2013 and 2014, which is more than the Economic Stimulus Package II.

In the participation process starting on Wednesday, the City of Chemnitz will present potential investments to citizens that could be considered for implementation. The administration has compiled the measures according to the following criteria: The top priority is the construction of a second structural escape route as a safety measure to improve fire protection at the schools. Facilities with significant structural defects where planning is already in place are also taken into account. The proposals also take into account the requirements of school network planning (e.g. necessary capacity expansions) and the further elimination of the refurbishment backlog.

Two weeks online participation

The timetable for applying to the Free State of Saxony for funding for the specific construction projects is tight. The city council must therefore decide on the measures as early as 19 September.

Citizens have until 12 September to submit their vote to the administration. Up to five construction measures can be supported. In this way, participants are signalling to the city administration and the city council which schools are particularly close to their hearts. The online platform also gives users the opportunity to give reasons for their vote. Users are encouraged to share their views with others. The city administration will also take part in the discussion and answer questions.

The final order of the vote will be submitted to the city council as a basis for discussion. The final decision on the measures for which funding will be applied for (worth 40 million euros) will be made by the city council. In principle, only investments for which the funding has been confirmed by the funding body can be realised. The City Council's final decision on which measures will actually be applied for from the Free State will be announced on the platform itself and in the official gazette.

A brief registration is required in order to vote and discuss. To register, you need to enter a user name and a valid e-mail address. Participation is primarily intended on the online platform at buergerhaushalt.chemnitz.de. Citizens without their own Internet access will find an overview of the measures and the opportunity to nominate measures in Wednesday's official gazette. Information on the participation procedure is also available on the standardised public authority telephone number 115.

Background on participatory budgeting

The municipal budget regulates the income and expenditure of the municipality. The endeavour to increase transparency and the participation of citizens in municipal decisions is the basis for the introduction of the participatory budgeting model project in the city of Chemnitz. One of the aims of participatory budgeting is to involve the people of Chemnitz more closely in concrete budgetary decisions. The project also aims to promote the willingness of citizens to contribute their ideas, visions and priorities. The aim is to strengthen the dialogue between citizens, city council and administration and provide politicians with decision-making aids based on the participation process. The city council decided to introduce the pilot project in April.