Following Durham’s municipal elections, community members can still decide the city’s path forward through a process known as participatory budgeting (PB), which allows citizens to propose and vote on city-funded projects. This year, 10 project proposals are up for consideration, and $2.4 million will be divided across the most popular projects.
The proposals on the ballot aim to repair parks, install free digital access stations and build a public restroom, among other initiatives. Durham residents aged 13 and older can vote online for their favorite five projects until Nov. 30.
Projects seeking PB funding are typically proposed during the spring. From there, they undergo an extensive vetting process to narrow down the number of proposals that end up on the fall ballot. The city also invites residents to participate in town hall events throughout November and provide feedback on how the fiscal year 2026-27 budget should be used…