KINGSTON – The second participatory budgeting project will kick off in the City of Kingston with conversations at three public meetings.
Mayor Steven Noble introduced participatory budgeting in 2018 as a pilot project, with each of the three business districts – Uptown, Midtown and Downtown – voted on how to allocate $15,000 in funds, for a city-wide total of $45,000. In the 2019 budget, the mayor set aside $20,000 for each district, for a total of $60,000.
“We had a wonderful response from the pilot and some beneficial programs were funded,” the mayor said. “The B.A.R.K. students have been beautifying the Uptown and Midtown neighborhoods and soon Downtown will have several new youth programs.” He said residents, business owners, workers, and other interested parties should submit new ideas for future projects.
The goal of the participatory budgeting project is to be open for input from the public and to gather a wide range of suggestions. Projects must impact a business district and must be able to be obligated or paid for by December 31, 2019. In some cases, implementation may take place in 2020. It is possible that multiple projects could be selected in a single district if the total of those projects does not exceed $20,000.
Three community visioning sessions are scheduled, all beginning at 6 p.m.:
- UPTOWN
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
LGBTQ Community Center at 300 Wall St. - DOWNTOWN
Monday, July 29, 2019
Hudson River Maritime Museum (50 Rondout Landing) - MIDTOWN
Wednesday, July 31
Kingston Library (55 Franklin St.)
