Ełk Participatory Budget – 2025 edition:

·  What is the Participatory Budget?

Participatory Budget, also known as participatory budgeting, democratic process in which residents co-decide on the public expenditure.

In short, this means that:

- residents submit project proposals budget, which are then analysed in terms of the possibility of Implementation;

- project proposals that successfully verified shall be put to a popular and direct vote;

- as a result, project proposals are allocated to to be implemented – by entering them in the budget.

·  Where does the money for the Participatory Budget come from?

Money that has been allocated to the Budget The civic budget is a separate part of the budget of the City of Ełk.

·  Why is it worth participating in its creation?

The Participatory Budget is an opportunity to make a real and co-decide directly on where part of the budget will be spent city. It gives you the opportunity to submit and promote your own interesting ideas for the benefit of residents, contributing to the improvement of the functioning of the entire city.

·  What is the amount for the Participatory Budget for 2025?

The amount of appropriations foreseen for the spending under the Ełk Participatory Budget for 2025 is 1 million PLN.

·  What projects can be financed from the Budget? Civil?

The participatory budget funds are financed by projects concerning only the own tasks of the city of Ełk specified in in the Act on Municipal Self-Government and must comply with the with the law, local spatial development plans and strategies and programs of the local government of the city of Ełk, i.e.:

- non-investment project – activities during the implementation of the project will be directly aimed at to all interested parties, e.g. classes, workshops, actions, campaigns, programmes, festivals, concerts, seminars, conferences and other activities Social;

- investment project – e.g. construction, reconstruction, modernization, adaptation of pavements and infrastructure playgrounds and small architecture objects and the development of the recreational areas that can be used after the end of the Investment.

·  Who can submit projects to the Budget? Civil?

Project proposals can be submitted by the residents of the City Elk. If the originator of the project is a minor, the required is the consent of the legal guardian and/or parent. The bill requires the support of at least 50 residents of the city.

·  Where to download and return after filling project application form for the Participatory Budget?

The application form is available at elk.budzet-obywatelski.org and in the Ełk City Hall. Filled Project submission forms can be submitted by a specific deadline through the online platform of the participatory budget or in the City Hall Elk.

·  If my idea is selected, is it possible to in the vote, will I get money for its implementation?

No. The Participatory Budget is not a subsidy program and the implementation of the voted proposals is the task of the City.

·  Can I indicate the project implementer?

You can't. The implementation of the project must be preceded by the selection of the appropriate mode by the implementer, i.e. the City of Ełk, in accordance with with the obligations that rest on the administrators of public funds.

·  Is it possible to carry out the tasks of the PB in stages, e.g. This year, the development of the project, and next year its implementation?

No. As part of the Participatory Budget, there can be no tasks that involve the implementation of only part of them, including draw up only a project or a project plan or secure the development of a Funds for implementation, without taking into account the costs of the project.

·  What should be included in the project budget?

The resident submitting the project provides estimates gross costs of the task, taking into account all components of the project. Mandatory items in the cost estimate are: costs of project development, costs of purchase and installation of materials, labour, etc. Please note that The resident provides a preliminary cost estimate, the final shape of which the application evaluation team decides.

·  On what basis are estimated costs verified?

Estimated costs are verified from experience professional knowledge of people from the substantive organizational units of the City Elk.

·  What happens when estimated costs are poorly developed – overstated/understated?

The substantive unit analyzing the task will do correction of incorrectly determined estimated costs.

·  Who can vote for projects?

The right to vote within the Ełk Every resident of the City of Ełk has a participatory budget. Minors for with the consent of legal guardians

·  How can I vote?

A resident can vote by way of online platform for participatory budgeting, or in the traditional way using a paper ballot. A voter may cast one vote for an investment project and one vote for a non-investment project.

·  What determines that a given project will win in the voting?

Projects will be selected for implementation whose total The cost does not exceed the amount provided for the Ełk participatory budget financial year.

·  Is it possible to supplement the application after it has been rejected?

No. After announcing the results of the verification of tasks, And even more so, after the vote, there is no possibility of interfering with the motions.

 For more information, please visit:

·  Ełk Participatory Budget website: www.elk.budzet-obywatelski.org  

·  website of the Ełk City Hall: www.elk.pl

·  in the Office for Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organizations Małeckich 3, room 10.1, phone: 87 73 26 186, 87 73 26 187, 87 73 26 185, E-mail: bop@um.elk.pl