Residents of Oulu can now vote on the use of the 70 000 euros of the participatory budgeting.

Voting on the participatory budgeting of the City of Oulu has begun, so Oulu residents get to decide how to use 70 000 euros. One can vote for one's favourites among the 38 proposals. One can get acquainted with all the proposals on the Osallistu Oulu website (osallistu.ouka.fi) where the voting also takes place. The voting period is 15.5–28.5.2023. 

Diverse proposals from various fields take part in the vote. The vote includes proposals relating to, for example, sports, outdoor activities, culture and urban environment. 

Voting on the Osallistu Oulu website 

Every resident in Oulu that is 13 years of age (this year) or older can vote. When voting, each voter can choose several proposals for the whole sum or just one that is personally significant. After the vote, based on the results, the city will implement the ideas that receive the most votes and fit into the budget of 70,000 euros. 

Voting will take place electronically by identification through banking credentials or mobile ID. Students studying in the schools of the City of Oulu can also vote with their own MPASSid credentials. More detailed information on voting is available on Osallistu Oulu website. 

The city responded to all ideas 

In January and February, Oulu residents were asked to submit ideas to improve their areas and the whole city on the Osallistu Oulu website. The ideas were considered and further developed by the city's experts and different operators.  

All proposals fit for implementation were put to vote. Things considered with respect to fitness of implementation include, for example, the potential to implement the idea with the available funds, timetable of implementation, and whether the idea is already going to be implemented some other way. 

All ideas provided are visible on the Osallistu Oulu website. The city responded even to those that did not proceed to voting this time. Various divisions of the city have also been notified of all given proposals. 

Through participatory budgeting the City of Oulu supports the implementation of the proposals put forward by the residents to develop the city. The goal of participatory budgeting is to increase the residents’ opportunities to influence and participate, and to increase the shared dialogue between the residents and the city.