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SARATOGA SPRINGS — City Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi on Jan. 2 announced the top vote-getters of the Saratoga Springs Participatory Budgeting project as selected by city residents.
“Participatory Budgeting is truly democracy in action,” Commissioner Sanghvi explained.
The Finance Department first launched pilot project in Spring of 2022 of Participatory Budgeting – as a democratic process in which community members decide how to spend part of a public budget.
“It’s a great project that allows people to come to City Hall with their solutions. If they see something they think will make our city better that they would like our city to be doing more of, they have an avenue to come to us and request funds for it,” Sanghvi said.
A volunteer committee evaluates the submitted potential projects, and items are placed on a ballot and put to a public vote.
In 2022, the City Council approved nine total projects for funding, ranging from an Urban Forestry Project to a free Community Art Program to a Dog Park Water Fountain.
For 2024, the Saratoga Springs City Council approved to allocate $62,500 to five projects.
They are:
• Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market Program Support. Total Cost: $12,000. Location: Saratoga Springs Farmer’s Market, 112 High Rock Ave.
Support nutrition education with an 8-week Saturday Farmers’ Market program called the Fresh Tent – which offers food sampling of fresh or prepared foods made with locally sourced farmers’ market products; Information on in-season fruits and vegetables, how to shop at the Farmer’s Market, NYS nutrition assistance programs and recipes using seasonal ingredients; An educational food-related activity for children; a $2 coupon for all visitors/participants for spending on Farmers’ Market products. The program will be free and open to the community. Submitter: Saratoga Springs Farmers’ Market Association.
• Bocce Ball Court. Total Cost: $13,000. Location: Veteran’s Memorial Park, 10 Adams Road.
Construction of one bocce ball court in Veteran’s Memorial Park. Submitter: Individual.
• Opera Saratoga Family Programming. Total Cost: $15,000. Location: Opera Saratoga, 19 Roosevelt Drive.
Produce five outreach opera performances in Saratoga Springs and the State Park for children and family’s education and enjoyment. Submitter: Opera Saratoga.
• Solar Charging Bench for Public Library. Total Cost: $12,500. Location: Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St.
Provide a convenient and clean energy charging source for electronic devices to Saratoga Springs residents and visitors. Located outside of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. Submitter: SSPL.
• Lake Ave School Centennial Celebration. Total Cost: $10,000. Location: TBD, Lake Avenue School, 126 Lake Ave.
Celebrate Lake Ave Schools’ upcoming centennial by recording oral histories and memories, photograph mementoes and produce an exhibition for display at the Saratoga Springs Public Library (location pending); intended to promote intergenerational conversation, as Lake Ave was once the high school and junior high building and is currently the elementary school. Submitter: Lake Avenue PTA.
