Participatory Budgeting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Participatory Budgeting?

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process where:

• Community leaders develop a scoped process with the City to help their fellow community members develop ideas.
• Community leaders turn ideas into proposals.
• Community members vote to select one or more of those proposals.
• The City will fund and implement the proposal(s) selected.

How are the City of Tacoma's participatory budgeting projects funded?

Council Districts 2 and 4

In 2021, the City of Tacoma dedicated $2.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support Council district-based participatory budgeting projects, which culminated in Districts 2 and 4 receiving $1 million each. In 2024, ARPA funding was redirected to meet other emerging City priorities. Consequently, the City of Tacoma’s participatory budgeting program was expected to conclude at the end of 2025, following implementation of the District 2 and 4 projects that were underway at the time.

Council District 5

As Tacoma’s participatory budgeting program was concluding at the end of 2025, the Washington State Department of Commerce contacted the Office of Management and Budget to explore funding a participatory budgeting project centered on overburdened communities in Tacoma. Staff finalized a grant contract in 2026, making participatory budgeting in Council District 5 possible.

This one-time grant supports the participatory budgeting process as well as $1.6 million for the selected project. Projects funded under this grant must:

• be focused on decarbonization and/or climate resiliency;
• specifically benefit and mitigate the disproportionate impacts of climate change on communities defined as “overburdened” under state code; and
• be capital projects.

Participatory budgeting in District 5 is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.

What projects has the community chosen to fund through participatory budgeting?

Council District 4

The City of Tacoma, in partnership with the Foundation for Tacoma Students (FFTS), has provided $800,000 for youth programming and cultural events in Council District 4. Over 12,000 community members voted by the end of the voting window; 30% of whom were under the age of 18 and 84% of votes were submitted by people of color.

The initiative distributes funding across two categories:

Cultural Programming Recipients – $400,000 total These grants will sustain three years of events that celebrate, educate, and showcase the diverse cultures that call District 4 home. Golden Bamboo  Salishan Association  All Star Vintage Sister Cities Council of Tacoma-Pierce County Toolbox Learning Laboratories PUSH for Dreams Feed Needs

Youth Programming Recipients – $400,000 total These grants will support one year of out-of-school programs serving children and teens ages 4-18 in District 4. Pearl Foundation of Puget Sound The Game Time Way Innovation Change Makers Tacoma Arts Live Mi Chiantla Asia Pacific Cultural Center

“I join all of District 4 in celebrating the culmination of our Participatory Budgeting process! This process gives voice to what our community wants. Voters in District 4 want home-grown and local organizations to showcase their work and add to the vibrancy of the eastside.  I am so happy to see this investment in an area of Tacoma that has been generationally under-resourced and hope to see the community continue to engage with government and help shape the future.” – Council Member Sandesh Sadalge

Council District 2

Voting closed on September 20, 2024, and the winner was announced on October 12 at the Festival Herencia Latina at the Tacoma Armory.

Over 6,000 Participatory Budgeting votes were tallied from community members in District 2. The community-proposed project that has been selected will design and build a covered skate park featuring public art in Downtown Tacoma, in a location under I-705. The proposed project is an exciting community initiative aimed at creating a vibrant space for both skateboarding and public art.

Other community-proposed projects in District 2 included:

• Upgrade accommodations at the City of Tacoma’s emergency shelter stability site on Puyallup Avenue with two shower/bathroom units, added access to electricity, ADA accessibility, and more.
• Fund youth programming for the new dedicated teen area, the community hub, and the Makerspace at Tacoma Public Library’s Main location.