Participatory Budgeting 2024 Votes Are In!
On May 13 over one hundred an eighty people voted in this years participatory budgeting for District 7
A fun filled night of chats, idea sharing and voting resulted in 5 large projects received full funding, 2 small projects receive full funding, and 1received partial funding at the final District 7 Participatory Budgeting before the election.
Over one hundred and eighty residents of all ages turned out Monday evening at the Halifax Central Library to cast their votes on what community projects would receive $56,680 if district capital funding for 2024/25
“It’s always harder to stage the vote in an election year, as less money is available and the timelines change. We were unable to hold a vote the year before the 2020 election as we did not have enough applicants. I am really happy we were able to have one more vote before my time as Councillor ends” said Waye Mason, Councillor for District 7, who is not running for councillor after completing his third term in office.
Councillor Mason brought participatory budgeting to Halifax in 2013 to provide equal access to the Councillor’s district capital fund, and make the decisions on funding in public.
In a non-election year each district in Halifax has a budget of $94,000 for a District Capital Fund for permanent projects in the community that provide widespread community benefit.
Since 2013, community members in District 7 have proposed projects, made recommendations on how to spend this money, and voted on what should be funded.
Many other districts in HRM have since adopted full or partial spending of their District Capital through a participatory budgeting vote.
“I expect the new Councillor will be under some pressure to continue this community-driven process, and I look forward to coming to vote in 2025!” said Mason.
The 2024/25 successful projects were:
| Name | Project | Amount |
| Gorsebrook Junior High PTA | Bike racks, benches, standing flagpole, and mural | $10,000.00 |
| Local Council of Women, Halifax | we plan to begin a project to create third-space opportunities in our adjoining lot at the Council House. Now that that is done, we envision a garden and green space that allows for the public and our community to enjoy the corner of Young & Inglis. |
$10,000.00 |
| Echology Action Centre | Bus Bike Rack installation, outdoor paint, new bike parts and tools
Outdoor Paint ($500) New Bike Parts and tools, |
$ 5,185.00 |
| LeMarchant St. Thomas Elementary | Balance of funds needed to pay for 2 Ceiling mounted Basketball Units (side nets), with Steel fan backboards with borders and targets, rear mounted rims and adjustable frames. | $10,000.00 |
| Halifax Brewery Farmer’s Market Cooperative Ltd. | Community Wall Project | $ 7,500.00 |
| Halifax Dance Association | additional Aging Actively workshops at The Halifax Central Library | $ 4,000.00 |
| Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association | Halifax Mural Fest | $ 5,000.00 |
| North End Business Association | Support the Mural Festival | $ 3,995.00 |
“As always, we heard from residents about how difficult it can be to choose a few projects because all the projects are excellent and need” Mason said, “but in the end, residents have to chose the best way to allocate the limited resources.”
Proposals will now be vetted by HRM staff and pending policy and due diligence by staff organizations should receive their funding in six to eight weeks.
For more information on Participatory budgeting, visit https://wayemason.ca/pb
PARTICIPATORY BUDGET VOTE COMING UP MONDAY MAY 13!
Residents of District 7 are invited to join me at the Lindsay Children’s Room at Halifax Central Library on Monday May 13 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to vote on which projects should receive support from District 7’s district capital for 2024-25.
PLEASE NOTE: In an election year, only $55,680 is available between April 1 and October,
There are 10 applications with a total application value of $74,000.
A tradition since 2013 (except during 2019 and COVID) community members like you have proposed projects and made recommendations on how to spend district capital money, and then voted on what should be funded.
All residents of District 7 regardless of citizenship – including children – are invited to come and help choose projects that will help build a stronger community! We are practising a different way of making decisions about how to spend public money in our neighbourhood.
This year’s projects and requests for funding are:
| Name | Project | Amount |
| Halifax Brewery Farmer’s Market Cooperative Ltd. | Community Wall Project | $7,500 |
| North End Business Association | Support the Mural Festival | $5,000 |
| Gorsebrook Junior High PTA | Bike racks, benches, standing flagpole, and mural | $10,000 |
| Halifax Dance Association | additional Aging Actively workshops at The Halifax Central Library | $4,000 |
| All Saints Cathedral | Publish a book recognizing the work of women in the community | $7,500 |
| Halifax Lancers | 2 computers with monitors, 1 laptop, 1 outdoor speaker system with wireless microphones, display screen for lobby | $10,000 |
| LeMarchant St. Thomas Elementary | Balance of funds needed to pay for 2 Ceiling mounted Basketball Units (side nets), with Steel fan backboards with borders and targets, rear mounted rims and adjustable frames. | $10,000 |
| Local Council of Women, Halifax | we plan to begin a project to create third-space opportunities in our adjoining lot at the Council House. Now that that is done, we envision a garden and green space that allows for the public and our community to enjoy the corner of Young & Inglis. | $10,000 |
| Quinpool Road Women, Halifax Association | Halifax Mural Fest | $5,000 |
| Ecology Action Centre | Bus Bike Rack installation, outdoor paint, new bike parts and tools |
The Bike Nova Scotia / HCC application was withdrawn.
Please share this invitation with your neighbours! More info at https://wayemason.ca/pb
Building a great community – one great idea at a time
Residents of District 7 are invited to join me at the Lindsay Children’s Room at Halifax Central Library on Monday May 13 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to vote on which projects should receive support from District 7’s district capital for 2024-25.
PLEASE NOTE: In an election year, only $55,680 is available between April 1 and October,
The balance of $37,600 will be available to the area Councillor after the election, and $720 has been allocated to support Ronald MacDonald House from the money available April 1.
A tradition since 2013 (except during COVID) community members like you have proposed projects and made recommendations on how to spend district capital money, and then voted on what should be funded.
All residents of District 7 regardless of citizenship – including children – are invited to come and help choose projects that will help build a stronger community! We are practising a different way of making decisions about how to spend public money in our neighbourhood.
Please share this post with your neighbours!
There are two funding streams – a big projects category that funds up to $10,000 and a small project category that will fund up to $5,000 or less.
Project applicants are set up science fair style in the room ready to answer questions about their proposal. Each ballot will have two sections on it and each voter must choose 4 different big projects and 2 different small projects for the ballot to be considered complete and to be counted. Votes are not weighted (all 4 votes for big projects count equally).
Winners will be announced at the end of the night!
District Capital Funds are for permanent projects that provide publicly accessible benefits in the community and that provide widespread community benefit. Priority is given to projects that are intergenerational or focused on youth or seniors, and that work to address equity, inclusion, and systemic racism in our community. Projects must provide the broadest public benefit, and meet all HRM policies and guidelines
More info here: https://wayemason.ca/pb
