Participatory budgeting is an operation model where citizens determine the use of a certain amount of money with ideation and a vote. During the idea period, the citizens may submit their ideas for enhancing the wellbeing and comfort of Oulu's citizens. All ideas offered will be evaluated and all feasible ideas are put to vote. By voting, the citizens determine which ideas are realized.
All 13-year-old or older citizens of Oulu are eligible to vote. The city is responsible for realization of the winning ideas. The aim of participatory budgeting is to increase chances to influence and participate for the citizens as well as promote dialogue between the city and its citizens.
In Finland and internationally, participatory budgeting is a way to promote the citizens’ more comprehensive participation in the use of the city’s resources. In Oulu, participatory budgeting has been implemented since 2018.
Follow the progression of participatory budgeting on osallistu.ouka.fi
Participatory Budgeting 2024
The city of Oulu’s participatory budgeting began on Monday January 15, 2024. The idea period lasts for two weeks and ends on January 28.
This time we are realizing the ideas of Oulu’s citizens with a more than tripled budget than before. This year the citizens will come up with ideas and decide by vote how the city will spend 240 000 € to enhance well-being and comfort in Oulu.
The idea period on 2024 was held between January 15-28. We received over 500 ideas. All sent ideas can be seen on the Osallistu Oulu website.
On the Osallistu Oulu website you may inspect all presented ideas and even comment on them. After the idea period, the city will respond to all presented ideas.
After the idea period, all ideas that meet the participatory budgeting criteria and are realizable are further developed into voting proposals with city experts and different operators.
In May, the citizens of Oulu decided by vote which proposals are realized. Based on the voting result, the city will realize the proposals that received the most votes that fit into the 240 000 € budget. The voting period lasted from May 6 to May 19.
The proposals that received the most votes and vote distribution
Proposals that received the most votes and the share of votes
- Guided Sport Clubs for Children – 3 000 € (2 559 votes)
- Defibrillators in Community Facilities – 19 200 € (2 369 votes)
- Painted Playgrounds on Schoolyards – 3 500 € (1 927 votes)
- Park Film Picnics in Hiukkavaara, Pyykösjärvi and Hupisaari – 3 000 € (1 846 votes)
- Children’s Concerts in Libraries – 4 000 € (1 666 votes)
- Music Performances at Senior Apartments – 10 000 € (1 625 votes)
- Activities for Young People in the Youth Centre Nurkka in Valkea – 8 000 € (1 564 votes)
- Basketball Baskets in Raksila and Kaakkuri Sport Centres – 8 000 € (1 457 votes)
- A Fire Pit in Hiironen – 5 000 € (1 449 votes)
- A Family Outdoor Event in Kaakkuri Sport Centre – 2 500 € (1 357 votes)
- Repairing the Fire Pit at Mariniemi Beach in Virpiniemi – 4 000 € (1 313 votes)
- Benches in Hiukkavaara Ice Skating Rink – 3 000 € (1 252 votes)
- Story Times in Different Languages – 2 000 € (1 232 votes)
- A Fire Pit in the Forest Between Hönttämäki-Korvenkylä - 5 000 € (1 231 votes)
- Free of Charge Ski Instruction for Adults – 2 000 € (1 221 votes)
- A Lean-to in Metsokangas – 7 000 € (1 212 votes)
- A Bench in Oritkari – 7 000 € (1 206 votes)
- Improving the Path to the Lean-to in Kivikkokangas – 5 000 € (1 188 votes)
- Climate Puzzle Games in Oulu’s Schools – 2 500 € (1 183 votes)
- Events for Young People in Kello – 2 000 € (1 169 votes)
- The Dudesons Tour in Four Schools in Oulu – 11 500 € (1 133 votes)
- A Shelter for Changing on Ice Skates on the Pöllönkangas School Field – 4 000 € (1 123 votes)
- Lectures for Parents – 10 000 € (1 121 votes)
- An Ice Skating Track in Kaakkuri – 20 000 € (1 106 votes)
- Author Guests for Libraries – 3 000 € (1 102 votes)
- An Outdoor Shelter in the Crossing of Iinatti and Kaakkuri Sport Centre – 5 000 € (1 083 votes)
- A Bird Watching Platform in Pyykkösjärvi - 15 000 € (1 065 votes)
- Repairing the Lean-to in Torpanmäki, Haukipudas – 5 000 € (1 056 votes)
- Benches for the Elderly in Hollihaka – 14 000 € (1 047 votes)
- Repairing the Valuri Playground in Värttö - 10 000 € (1 040 votes)
- Observation Tower in Runtelinharju, Haukipudas – 25 000 € (976 votes)
- Benches on the Routes of Välivainio and Alppila – 5 000 € (969 votes)
- A Flower Bed Roof for a Bus Stop – 15 000 €. Only 6 800 € was left in the budget. (886 votes)
The winning proposals will be implemented during the 2024. You can follow the implementation progress of the proposals on the Osallistu Oulu website.
The goal of participatory budgeting is to increase the citizens’ possibilities to influence and participate as well as to increase dialogue between the city and its citizens. Participatory budgeting is funded by the nation’s welfare and health promotion fund divided among municipalities.