Participatory budget

It is a painful issue for local authorities to set priorities in budgeting. In the conditions of austerity, it is necessary to cut some items of expenditure in order to support other, priority ones. Only how can the head of the municipality correctly determine which expenditure item is more priority and which can be donated? How can we meet the expectations of the raion residents in our decision? Is it worthwhile to involve citizens, ordinary residents of a given region, in the process of budgeting? A good international experience of involving citizens in the process of preparation and decision making is the participatory budgeting. Who but not local residents who are familiar with the region's problems by hearsay, should ask questions regarding the identification of priorities for financing this or that sphere of life next year. Citizens' participation in the discussion of the future budget will indeed give a chance to get an idea of public opinion about the priority needs of the population, as well as contribute to community cohesion and increase the level of trust in local authorities.