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What is The People's Money?

The People’s Money is a citywide participatory budgeting (PB) process where New Yorkers decide how to spend part of the city’s budget on projects their communities need. This process happens every year and is open to all New Yorkers 11 and older, regardless of immigration or incarceration status.

How does The People’s Money work?

The People's Money consists of four phases and takes two years to complete. The first three phases run in one year, and the last phase, Project Implementation, runs in the second year.

First year:

  • Idea Generation - Share your ideas!

  • Borough Assemblies - Join an assembly and shape the ballot!

  • Voting - Vote on what matters most to you!

Second year:

  • Project Implementation - Where ideas come to life!

For more details, visit the How The People’s Money Works page.

Process phases

From October through November of 2025, New Yorkers will attend Idea Generation Workshops to discuss and develop ideas that address community needs. Residents will also be able to propose ideas online directly through this platform.

From January through February 2026, Borough Assemblies — made up of randomly selected New Yorkers — will convene to discuss and select the final ideas to be placed on the five borough ballots.

Between May and June of 2026, New Yorkers will have the opportunity to vote on how to spend part of the city budget to address community needs. All New Yorkers ages 11 and up will be able to vote online or in person, in multiple languages, and at sites across the five boroughs.

After the voting phase, when community members select the winning ideas, local organizations will apply to bring them to life. Over the following year, they will partner with the Commission’s team to receive support, track progress, and ensure the projects are successfully completed.

The People's Money - 4th Cycle

2025 - 2027

Current phase
Start date / End date
Oct 15 2025 / Oct 31 2027
Avatar: Mae Lee Avatar: Michelle Bostic Avatar: Moria Byrne Zaaloff Avatar: Ashley Melo-mamon Avatar: Danny Joyner Avatar: GWEC YLC - Legacy

About this process

What is happening in the 4th Cycle of The People's Money?

New Yorkers have submitted their ideas for community projects and the Civic Engagement Commission (CEC) is now reviewing the ideas’ eligibility for the next phase, Borough Assemblies. In the winter, randomly selected residents from each borough will determine which project ideas will move forward to the citywide vote.


View the ideas that have been submitted by New Yorker’s!


Funding Amount: $4 million from New York City's Expense Budget



What is The People’s Money?

The People’s Money is a citywide participatory budgeting (PB) process where New Yorkers decide how to spend part of the city’s budget on projects their communities need. This process happens every year and is open to all New Yorkers 11 and older, regardless of immigration or incarceration status.

How does The People’s Money work?

The People's Money consists of four phases and takes two years to complete. The first three phases run in one year, and the last phase, Project Implementation, runs in the second year.

First year:

  • Idea Generation - Share your ideas!

  • Borough Assemblies - Join an assembly and shape the ballot!

  • Voting - Vote on what matters most to you!

Second year:

  • Project Implementation - Where ideas come to life!

For more details, visit the How The People’s Money Works page.

What is decided
$4 million from New York City's Expense Budget
Who participates
All New Yorkers 11 and older, regardless of immigration or incarceration status.
Area
New York City
Promoter group
Civic Engagement Commission

Related processes

3
Media picture: The People's Money - 1st Cycle

The People's Money - 1st Cycle

Finished: 06/30/2024
Complete
Media picture: The People's Money - 2nd Cycle

The People's Money - 2nd Cycle

Finished: 10/31/2025
Complete
Media picture: The People's Money - 3rd Cycle

The People's Money - 3rd Cycle

11 months remaining
4.0 Project Implementation
Reference: nyc-PART-2025-09-11

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Welcome to Participate, the Civic Engagement Commission's interactive website to engage New Yorkers in participatory budgeting. Please create an account to interact with all features available and make sure your voice is heard! You need an NYC.ID account to use Participate. If you already have an NYC.ID account, you can log in with it. If you don’t have an NYC.ID account yet, you’ll need to create one first. Once you have an NYC.ID, you can log in and start using Participate.

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