Procedures and Criteria for the Citywide Participatory Budgeting Program

RCNY tit. 73, ch. 2

in effect

73 RCNY § 2-01 Purpose and scope.

§ 2-01 Purpose and scope. These rules set forth the procedures and criteria for the citywide participatory budgeting program authorized pursuant to Sections 225-a and 3202 of the Charter. Such rules shall apply unless the executive and adopted budgets enumerate local projects that were selected after a timely participatory budgeting process pursuant to Sections 225-a and 3202 of the Charter. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-02 Definitions.

§ 2-02 Definitions. Borough ballot. The term “borough ballot” means a ballot, approved by the Commission, that lists and briefly describes each local project in a specific borough or, if approved by the Commission, an alternative, specified geographic area. Capital project. The term “capital project” has the meaning as such term is defined in Section 210 of the Charter. City poverty measure. The term “city poverty measure” means the citywide poverty rate as calculated by the mayor’s office for economic opportunity or successor office or agency. Citywide participatory budgeting. The term “citywide participatory budgeting” refers to the program established in Section 225-a of the Charter. Commission. The term “commission” means the New York city civic engagement commission or the chair acting on behalf of the commission. Digital platform. The term “digital platform” means an online platform used by the Commission to enable city residents to submit, comment on and vote for local projects. Expense project. The term “expense project” means a project that may be funded with amounts appropriated in the expense budget and is not a capital project. Local project. The term “local project” means a project that is eligible to be placed on a borough ballot and funded pursuant to Sections 225-a and 3202 of the Charter and this chapter. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-03 Project Eligibility Requirements.

§ 2-03 Project Eligibility Requirements. To be eligible for placement on a borough ballot, a local project must satisfy all of the following criteria: (a) The project must be an expense project; (b) The total cost of the project must not exceed the amount determined by the Commission to be available for such project and must be sufficient to complete such project; (c) The project must be completed within a single city fiscal year; and (d) The project shall address the needs of immigrant communities, individuals with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, youth, students, seniors, veterans, groups or categories of residents that have been historically underrepresented or underserved by city government or another community need identified through the idea generation process as set forth in 73 RCNY § 2-05. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-04 Target Funding Allocation.

§ 2-04 Target Funding Allocation. (a) To the extent practicable, the Commission will calculate target funding allocations for each borough which targets may be adjusted as necessary. (b) Target borough allocations will be calculated using a weighted average of borough population and the percentage of the borough population below the poverty guidelines, as set by the city poverty measure. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-05 Idea Generation.

§ 2-05 Idea Generation. (a) The Commission will solicit ideas from the public for local projects to be funded pursuant to this chapter. Ideas may be submitted to the Commission by individuals or organizations. (b) The Commission may convene a borough committee for each borough comprised of residents who make recommendations for local projects to be placed on the borough ballot. Recommendations of such borough committees have no binding effect on the Commission. (c) The Commission will conduct outreach to residents to inform them of examples of local projects, and options for voting for local projects on the borough ballot in person and through the digital platform. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-06 Ballot Selection Criteria.

§ 2-06 Ballot Selection Criteria. The Commission will select, from among the proposals submitted pursuant to 73 RCNY § 2-05, local projects to be placed on the borough ballot for each borough. In making its selection, the Commission will consider the following factors: (a) The number of people served by the local project; (b) The geographic distribution of local projects; (c) The extent to which a local project fulfills an unmet need or gap in service or augments existing programming; and (d) The extent to which a local project serves one or more of the groups identified in subdivision (d) of 73 RCNY § 2-03. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-07 Voting Process.

§ 2-07 Voting Process. (a) Any resident of the city of New York 11 years of age or older is eligible to vote for local projects, subject to the following restrictions for the protection of children: (1) Children under the age of 13 may not register an account on the digital platform. (2) Children ages 13 through 17 may not register an account on the digital platform unless they receive parental or guardian consent to register such account. This paragraph does not apply to a child who is a legally emancipated adult. (b) The following voting procedures apply: (1) A resident may cast votes only for local projects located within their borough of residence or, if approved by the Commission, within an alternative geographical unit; (2) A resident may cast only one borough ballot; (3) A resident may vote for multiple local projects on the borough ballot. (c) A borough ballot may be cast online via the digital platform or in person. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

73 RCNY § 2-08 Final Selection Process.

§ 2-08 Final Selection Process. (a) The Commission will tabulate the total number of votes cast for each local project. (b) The Commission retains the final authority to select which local projects that were placed on the borough ballots receive funding from the Commission. (1) In making such selection, the Commission must consider which local projects received the largest number of votes in each borough and the factors identified in 73 RCNY § 2-06. (2) For a local project that requires the use of city personnel or property or the substantial participation or cooperation of one or more city agencies, the Commission shall obtain the concurrence of the affected agency or agencies before making a final determination to select such local project. For a local project that relates to an area of expertise of a city agency, the Commission will inform such agency of such project’s selection. (c) The aggregate cost of all local projects selected by the Commission for funding shall not exceed the total amounts appropriated for local projects. (Added City Record 6/30/2023, eff. 7/30/2023)

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-134038Fetched: 10/24/2026