By Michael V. Cusenza
Two area schools are set to benefit from the Fiscal Year Participatory Budgeting cycle.
A $350,000 allocation will help Richmond Hill High School renovate its gymnasium. In South Ozone Park, bathroom upgrades to the tune of $300,000 are on the way to MS 226.
During the voting period, which took place from March 29 through April 6, more than 93,000 New Yorkers voted to allocate $30 million in capital funding for local improvements to schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces across 24 Council Districts in New York City. This year marks the 14th cycle of Participatory Budgeting by the City Council since it launched the initiative in 2011.
Participants voted online or submitted paper ballots to their local City Council offices. Of the votes cast for this cycle, 61 percent were from paper ballots, and the remaining 39 percent were from online votes. Ballots were made available in English and 13 additional languages. Voting in Participatory Budgeting is open to all residents of participating districts who are 11 years of age and older.
Photo Courtesy of Google
MS 226 in South Ozone Park is one of the schools that will benefit from FY 2026 Participatory Budgeting.
The Participatory Budgeting proposals on this year’s ballots were created by New Yorkers who attended neighborhood assemblies and budget delegate meetings throughout the fall and winter. All proposals are for capital budget projects, which are significant neighborhood infrastructure investments. They were crafted and refined in partnership with relevant city agencies and facilitated by participating Council Members’ offices.
“Through Participatory Budgeting, New Yorkers across the city have contributed thoughtful ideas and projects to improve their neighborhoods, and the winning projects will be included in the upcoming city budget,” said Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “This process fosters greater civic engagement and empowers New Yorkers of all ages to be involved in the long-term success of their communities. I am grateful to my Council colleagues, the budget delegates who advanced funding proposals, and the over 93,000 New Yorkers who voted for their favorite projects!”
