Civic Budget 2016 in Gdynia
Voting ran from 12 to 25 September 2016. 44,167 people participated – about 18.49 percent of Gdynia’s residents eligible to vote. The youngest voting residents were born in 2016 (there were 187), the oldest were 100 years old (two people).
The third edition of the Civic Budget was thus the first one conducted according to a schedule common for Gdynia, Gdańsk, Sopot and Rumia. Also the first one, in which the citizens pointed out projects using the ranking method, the first one, in which voting for CB was complemented by the selection of “Friendly District” projects and finally the first one, in which the most active districts were honoured with a +1 bonus for attendance.
In the 2016 Gdynia Civic Budget, PLN 5,203,543.65 was to be distributed, plus an additional bonus under “1+”, which this year amounted to PLN 231,500. In 22 districts, the citizens of Gdynia chose from 141 projects. Following an online vote via www.bo.gdynia.pl, residents selected 30 projects for implementation.
A record turnout – 47.74 percent of voters – was achieved in Pustki Cisowskie – Demptowo.
Among the projects shortlisted for implementation are mainly playing fields and playgrounds.
During the voting, the so-called “flying squads” – volunteers and SIL (Social Innovation Lab) employees who explained the CB rules, encouraged or even enabled people to vote – were active in several locations around Gdynia. They were equipped with mobile internet devices through which it was possible to cast a vote or view a list of projects. The SIL staff visited Gdynia’s senior citizens’ clubs and care facilities. At weekends they were present in shopping centres and at events taking place in Gdynia. In turn, the authors of the projects themselves encouraged people to vote during festivals and picnics organised in the districts.
Support during voting was provided by employees of city institutions – e.g. libraries, NGO activists, district and city councillors, parish priests of Gdynia.
For the first time, the people of Gdynia also nominated projects within the Friendly District. These are projects prepared by the neighbourhood councils in local partnership, concerning the integration of the inhabitants, organisation of leisure time, cultural and sports activities, increasing the sense of security and family activities.
PLN 25,000 was reserved for each district, which could be allocated to one or several projects as a result of the vote. The FD pool for the entire city was PLN 550,000. 16,601 people, or about 6.95 percent of those eligible, voted for the Friendly District projects. 36 projects will be implemented. Among the projects selected for implementation are mainly sports and recreational activities.
All annexes: submitted and selected projects, legal basis, archival downloads are available here in Polish.