Participatory Budgeting
Participatory Budgeting is a different way to manage public money by engaging individuals to directly decide how to spend public funds. Palo Alto College sets aside $50,000 each year – $25,000 for student projects and $25,000 for employee projects. These projects are brainstormed, proposed, and voted on each Spring and implemented over the next 12 months. Each project proposal has a maximum budget of $5,000. This is the Palo Alto College community's opportunity to have their ideas turned into action. Fill out the application below, and submit the completed form by emailing pac-pb@alamo.edu. |
Participatory Budgeting Process
January–February 2020
Info Sessions:
Friday, Jan. 31
Ozuna 101 Legacy Room, 10 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 3
Brazos Hall 104, 1 p.m.
Info Tables:
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Student Center Annex, 12 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Student Center 130, 9 a.m.
Deadline:
Saturday, Feb. 29
Last day to submit an application to the Office of VP of College Services
March–April 2020
Friday, March 6
Committee reviews applications and provides feedback
Friday, March 6–Friday, March 20
Applicants provide additional information for application (as needed)
Monday, March 30
Projects that would make changes on campus are submitted to Spaces Committee for approval.
Friday, April 10
Revisions and final proposals due
Wednesday, April 15
Applicants notified whether project is viable and can move forward to voting stage
May 2023
Wednesday, May 3–Friday, May 5
Voting takes place online. All Palo Alto College faculty, staff, and students are permitted to vote for up to three projects.
Monday, May 8
Votes compiled
Tuesday, May 9–Tuesday, May 16
Winning projects presented to Campus Leadership Team
Friday, May 19
Winning projects announced to entire Palo Alto College community
Project Funding Phase: October–December 2023
Thursday, October 5
Begin finalizing information needed for purchasing
Thursday, Dec. 14
Purchasing deadline
Project Act Phase: January 2024
Monday, Jan. 8–Friday, Jan. 12
Project implementation, closure, and evaluation
Friday, Jan. 12
Project evaluation forms due
Applications and Forms
Participatory Budgeting Application (FY2022)
Past Projects
Palo Alto College piloted PB from FY2013–FY2015 with employee project proposals only. The program expanded in FY2016 to include student projects, alloting $25,000 to student projects and $25,000 to employee projects.
Student Projects
Project Title | Budget |
Hungry for Success | $3,000 |
Screen the Possibilities | $5,000 |
$8,000 |
Employee Projects
Project Title | Budget |
Distance Markers Around PAC Campus | $5,000 |
New Realities & Creativity in the PACreates Zone | $5,000 |
Mariana Ornelas Humanitarian Scholarship | $5,000 |
Ray Ellison Family Center Tools for Success | $5,000 |
$20,000 |
Student Projects
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Employee Projects
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Student Projects
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Employee Projects
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Student Projects
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Employee Projects
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Employee Projects
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Employee Projects
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Employee Projects
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