Proposal includes a dog run
March 6, 2015 By Michael Florio
Astoria residents are about to get their say as to how $1 million of public funds should be spent.
Residents will be able to select up to five projects out of 18 proposals put forward– when they are put up for a vote in April.
The vote, which is part of what’s known as the participatory budgeting process, allows residents to determine where $1 million in city funds should be spent.
Residents will be able to cast their votes from April 13th through 19th. The project that receives the most votes will be funded—followed by other popular items- until the $1 million is exhausted.
The cost of each project varies but each one can be no more than $500,000; this ensures that at least two projects will be selected.
“Participatory Budgeting has been rewarding for our entire district,” said Councilman Costa Constantinides, who released a sample ballot for the vote today.
The items that are being put up for a vote include upgrades to public schools; traffic safety items; park improvements; to the creation of a dog run at the Triborough Playground Lot C (see full list below).
The items on the ballot were the result of community input, following four public meetings throughout Astoria and surrounding areas.
A list of 250 ideas was whittled down to 18 by community representatives.
“This entire process has featured ideas generated by members of the community,” Constantinides said. “For the first time, anyone in the district can directly make decisions about how taxpayer money is spent.”
It has not yet been finalized where residents will go to vote.
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