Denver People’s Budget engages 6,000 residents to allocate $3 million to 13 neighborhood projects

The Denver People’s Budget, a participatory budgeting program created in 2022, has engaged more than 6,000 community members to allocate $3,000,000 toward 13 neighborhood infrastructure projects, program staff said.

City staff described the process as one in which residents submit ideas, develop them into project proposals and vote for the proposals they want the city to move forward on. Kiki Turner, identified in the presentation as program administrator for the Denver People’s Budget, said the program uses a “culturally responsive strategy” and open dialogue so residents are “truly a part of decision making.”

Program staff said the People’s Budget is intended to rebuild trust with historically underserved communities and serve as a model of direct democracy that balances resident-driven processes with efficient governance. A staff presenter summarized the approach by saying, “It takes all of us to build and maintain a thriving city.”

City presenters tied the People’s Budget to regional planning goals, noting that Metro Vision “calls on each of the region’s cities, towns, and counties to contribute to the metro area’s economy, resilience, quality of life, and sense of place.” The presenters described the People’s Budget as an example of resident-led investment that complements those regional goals.

No formal Council action, motion or vote on the People’s Budget was recorded in the presentation excerpt. The session included an accessibility notice advising viewers to request digital accessibility assistance; staff provided an access request web address and phone number during the presentation.

Background: according to the presentation, the People’s Budget was developed in 2022 to improve engagement with historically underserved communities. The program administrators said more than 6,000 community members have participated and successfully allocated $3,000,000 to 13 infrastructure projects across Denver neighborhoods.