King County Investment Budget Committee Marks Closure of First Participatory Budget Cycle, Announces Cycle 2
The members of the King County Participatory Budget Steering Committee met to mark the closure of the first PB cycle (Photo Jordan Somers)
Last night, King County Investment Budget Committee held an event in Skyway to mark the closure of their first cycle of Participatory Budgeting. Titled ‘The People’s Budget,’ the PB was led by a steering committee of 21 individuals who worked to determine how money should be distributed in unincorporated areas like Skyway and White Center. In they end, they decided on causes like down payment assistance and increased awareness of HBCUs and education opportunities.
Gloria Briggs, the program manager, said she was proud of the work done by the steering committee.
“Last night was really about uplifting the 21 steering committee members that were involved in the PB to make it possible,” Briggs said. “My favorite part of the evening was just seeing everyone coming together in person because we have been stuck in a virtual setting. To see that fellowship was really inspiring.”
Briggs said the community that has been created through the process is special, as the the committee continues to look for innovative ways to involve community in the budgeting process.
“We’re building transformative types of relationships with community members,” Briggs said. “Just be able to see us as a government entity, work with community side by side like that is what means the most to me.”
Briggs said applications for the second cycle of participatory budgeting are now open.
If you would like to be considered for the steering committee and have ties to unincorporated communities in King County, you can find more information here
Photos by Jordan Somers
