CITIZEN BUDGET AS A COMPONENT OF LOCAL POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF TOWNS IN THE PODKARPACKIE VOIVODESHIP

Abstract

One of the most important instruments for engaging residents in local affairs and building social awareness is the citizen budget. It is a form of involving residents in the planning of public spending, which has been delegated by local authorities at their discretion. The aim of the article is to assess the use of the citizen budget as a component of local policy in towns in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship during the years 2018–2022. The research method employed is desk research based on public data and interviews conducted with city office employees. Within the citizen budget of the towns studied the number of projects submitted by residents increased, as did the turnout of voters. This is a signal of community engagement in the life of individual towns. There is a growing social awareness as well as a need for organization and cooperation. By encouraging participation in public life and collective decision-making related to the allocation of public funds, the overarching goal of citizen engagement has been achieved. Most projects chosen by residents are related to the construction or modernization of technical infrastructure, although in recent years, soft projects have also begun to appear more frequently. They reflect changing social needs, with cultural, sports, and recreational projects being the most dominant.

Keywords

• citizen budget
• local policy
• social participation
• urban district