Public spending, by the people

A report that summarizes key evaluation findings of 2014–15 PB cycles in the U.S. and Canada.

A total of 46 jurisdictions across 13 cities in the U.S. and Canada undertook PB between July 2014 and June 2015 During that time, public officials allocated nearly US$50 million to PB projects.

Over 70,000 residents participated and more than 350 projects won public funding. Only six years earlier, just one council ward in Chicago and a large public housing community in Toronto were doing PB. This report provides an unprecedented summary of key facts and figures of the 2014–15 PB cycle in the U.S. and Canada. It highlights the size and scope of PB in 2014–15 and illustrates substantial variability in how communities implemented and participated in PB. This publication seeks to inform and significantly further ongoing debates about and practices of PB in the U.S. and Canada. 

Source: Public Agenda
Author information: Carolin Hagelskamp, Chloe Rinehart, Rebecca Silliman, David Schleifer

Year of publication: 2016