Participatory budgeting won’t save California cities

By Mark Moses
07/17/2026
This spring, Marin County launched a second round of participatory budgeting, inviting residents to help decide how another $2.5 million in public funds should be spent. The program reflects California’s growing embrace of participatory budgeting as an innovative reform. The idea clearly resonates with many people. More participation should produce better government. It won’t. A...

TAGS: Government Finance, municipal finance, public budgeting