Mayor Katjana Ballantyne invites all Somerville residents ages 12 and older to vote in the city’s second cycle of Participatory Budgeting. Voting is open now through April 30 and residents will help decide how to invest $1 million in community-generated projects to improve Somerville.

Participatory Budgeting is about putting decision-making power directly in the hands of our community, and unsurprisingly, our residents have stepped up once again with vision and passion,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I’m energized not only by the ideas themselves but by the continued dedication of our budget delegates and City staff, who worked so thoughtfully to shape this year’s ballot. I encourage every eligible resident to vote and help make their favorite proposals a reality.”

Residents submitted over 700 ideas for Cycle 2. A team of volunteer budget delegates then worked closely with City staff to evaluate and refine the ideas based on feasibility, cost, impact, and community need. The final ballot features 20 project proposals across themes like pedestrian safety, youth programming, environmental resilience, public art, civic engagement, and more.

2025 Participatory Budgeting Ballot Highlights

To learn more about each proposal, including cost and location, visit somervillema.gov/pb. Highlights include:

• Safe Crossings for Kids – Traffic calming around schools and playgrounds
• More Bluebikes Stations – Three new stations with bikes in high-need areas
• Public Community Compost Pilot – Accessible, rodent-safe compost drop-offs
• SomerStories Murals – Community-centered murals celebrating local stories
• Bus Access for All – Upgrading bus stops to be ADA-accessible
• Voting in the ‘Ville – New designs for “I Voted” stickers, plus civic engagement outreach
• Bike Network Guarantee – One mile of separated bike lanes aligned with the city’s Bicycle Network Plan

Boost Somerville’s Nutrition Security Network – Expanded cold storage and food distribution

Pollinator Gardens – Native flora planted across parks to support pollinators

Outsmart Somerville Rats! – More SMART boxes and rodent education efforts

How to Vote

Somerville residents can rank their top five favorite ideas. The projects with the most votes will be funded until the $1 million is allocated. Results will be announced later this spring, and project implementation will begin shortly thereafter.

Vote Online: Visit somervillema.gov/pb or scan the QR code on Participatory Budgeting materials.

Vote by Phone: Call 311 (or 617-666-3311)

Vote In Person: Fill out a paper ballot at any Somerville Public Library branch or at City Hall.