Before Stockton declared bankruptcy last year, Vallejo was the largest California city to file for Chapter 11 protection in 2008. Vallejo exited bankruptcy about 18 months ago.
"This city's kind of been through the ringer, if you will, in terms of a loss of programs, projects, services, quality of life."
City Councilmember Marti Brown says "Participatory Budgeting"
seemed like a great way for people in town to decide how they
wanted their taxpayer dollars spent.
Residents 16-and-older were eligible to vote in the week-long
election which ended over the weekend. Top vote getters included:
street repairs, park improvements and community gardens.
Brown says the vote helped the city heal.
"When you don't have much money but you have human
resources and human capital but you put some money on the table and
say 'you know, look - come get involved in your city and make it a
better place' - that is something that certainly motivates
people."
Projects selected by the public will go before the City
Council for final approval next week.