AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/menu-money/page/2/)
Voting runs through Nov. 20th on five neighborhood projects on the list to be funded out of Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s $1.3 million “menu money” budget. This is the second year those living in the ward have been able to take part in “participatory budgeting.”
Ald. Chris Taliaferro is collecting ideas about how to spend $500,000 of $1.3 million allocated to the ward in “menu money.”
The first of three meetings being held to discuss which neighborhood projects should be funded with “menu money” is set for June 14 at Amundsen Park. Two other gatherings are planned for Rutherford-Sayre Park and the Columbus Park Refectory later this month.
Ald. Chris Taliaferro says $700,000 in funding will pay for six projects – ranging from community gardens and murals to pedestrian islands and park equipment. Six months of community meetings and two weeks of voting determined how the menu money will be spent.
The last day to cast your vote is Saturday, June 4th. This is the first year West Siders have been asked to weigh in on how Ald. Chris Taliaferro will spend $700,000 in menu money.
Ald.-Elect Chris Taliaferro says he’s interested in giving 29th Ward residents more of a say in how the $1.3 million is spent each year.
The project was presented at Monday’s 28th Ward meeting, along with other action to clean up the streets, including police efforts to combat crime and the city’s April 21 Clean and Green volunteer day.
An analysis of how Austin’s council members distributed their funds last year shows some went unused.
Residents should let Ald. Deborah Graham know what ward improvements they’d like for 2011.