Ranked Choice Results from Cycle 2
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Contact Information
Throughout the month of April 2025, members of the Somerville community voted on a ballot containing 20 proposals for how to spend $1 million. Over 4,200 votes were received and the funded projects are listed below. Remaining unallocated funds from Cycle 1 contributed to the total meaning that we could award $1,045,000 in total. In order of most votes, the winning projects are:
Cycle 2 Winning Projects
| Project Name/Description | Cost | Current Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afterschool Programs This proposal would expand capacity at afterschool programming through collaborative partnerships. Enriching opportunities for our city’s youngest learners will ease the pressure on working parents and foster academic, social, and emotional growth. |
$150,000 | Complete | Apollo Afterschool is providing high-quality childcare at the Argenziano and Kennedy schools where waitlist numbers are highest. Participatory Budgeting funded 30 additional slots in the 2025-2026 school year. |
| Boost Somerville’s Nutrition Security Network The project will work with community partners to purchase and install a walk-in fridge and freezer, to store and distribute fresh food donations to community partners, nonprofits, and community fridges. Funds will also directly supply the cold storage unit with increased volumes of fresh food. |
$220,000* | In Procurement | A shared cold storage fridge is expected to be operational in East Somerville/Winter Hill by summer 2027. Funds were also used to support 3 food pantries when SNAP benefits were frozen during the Fall 2025 federal government shutdown. *In 2024, the City of Somerville was awarded $50,000 to fund community resilience to climate change through the State's Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) 2.0 grant program which will contribute towards project funding. |
| Public Community Compost Install, contract, and maintain community composting drop-off bins at high-impact, public locations. Funds for this program would also go towards coordination with community food rescue applications, transporting compost to community gardens, and supporting Somerville's food system. |
$125,000 | In Procurement | Currently working with vendors to secure ten compost drop-off bins that will be placed around Somerville in Fall 2026. |
| Bike Network Guarantee Provide funding to implement roughly one mile of separated bicycle lanes consistent with the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan’s 2026 program year. |
$400,000 | In Planning | PB funds are supporting construction of separated bike lanes and other infrastructure upgrades for the Elm Beacon Connector as part of the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan. |
| Outsmart Somerville Rats Deploy an additional 40 SMART boxes in Somerville public spaces, which electrocute rodents upon entry while providing real-time data. Also install landscaping solutions to limit burrowing activity at city properties, such as schools. Additional funds can support community education on trash management. |
$120,000 | In Procurement | Currently working with vendors for additional SMART boxes on school grounds, educational mailers & yard signs, and equipment for ISD staff to reduce rodent populations in parks. |
| Pollinator Gardens This proposal will replant existing raised beds and add new raised beds with native flora in parks around the city, consistent with the Somerville Pollinator Action Plan. |
$30,000 | Ongoing | A pollinator garden was planted at Lincoln Park with the help of volunteers in May 2026. Stay tuned for updates on the next planting coming up in Fall 2026! |
The selected city improvement projects were chosen from the more than 900 ideas submitted by Somerville residents for consideration. The ideas were then evaluated by budget delegate volunteers who collaborated closely with City staff to evaluate each idea’s need, impact, feasibility, and cost to determine the final ballot proposals. Somerville residents ages 12 and up were able to vote on the final ballot of 20 ideas from September 13-October 13. Over 3,500 votes were cast by the community and the following 5 were funded out of the 20 ideas on the ballot.
Cycle 1 Funded Proposals (Spring – Fall 2023)
| Project Name/Description | Cost | Current Status | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support Direct Community Food Access Contract with a nonprofit to strengthen direct community food access programs in Somerville. These initiatives redirect excess food to those in need and/or reduce the barriers for residents to access free or subsidized food using tools like Community Fridges. |
$55,000 | Ongoing | Throughout Summer 2024 and 2025, Boston Area Gleaners has been stocking the three community fridges with 72 cases of fresh produce each week. Funds also provided fresh, local ingredients to the SHS Culinary Arts program, resulting in 675 meals which were distributed to community fridges, pantries, and shelters. See the 2026 Community Food System Assessment to learn more! |
| Bike Lane Acceleration Accelerate the implementation of the Somerville Bicycle Network Plan. This funding will be used to pay for 1-2 miles of Quick-Build bike lanes divided by flexible delineators. This is additional funding, not replacement funding. |
$250,000 | Ongoing | 1.04 miles across 5 sections in addition to priority streets for bike lane creation and/or a more durable separator. A portion of the funds may also be used to add bike racks. |
| Bus Stop Improvement Improve access and condition of areas around bus stops in most heavily used corridors in Somerville (Broadway, Washington, Somerville Ave.). Options include real time signage, seating, landscaping, or innovative shade structures. |
$200,000 | Complete | Five bus stop shelters have been installed at stops in some of Somerville’s most heavily used transit corridors. |
| Faster BigBelly Trash Can Adoption for Rat Abatement Place additional BigBelly trash can units through the city to improve cleanliness and decrease the rat population. Part of this funding would also go towards promotional materials explaining measures that all residents can take to reduce the rat population. |
$250,000 | Complete | 90 close-top trash cans have been distributed throughout the city, including all Somerville parks. These cans reduce rat populations and keep our city sparkling. |
| Keep it Cool in the ‘Ville Install shade structures for parks and public squares. Create cooler, sun-safe areas for pedestrians and park-goers to reduce effects of urban heat. |
$200,000 | Complete | The shade structure has been installed and is located in the Capuano Schoolyard. |
Ranked Choice Results from Cycle 1
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In Somerville
In June 2022, the Mayor proposed―and City Council approved―$1 million to be allocated for the purpose of having community members propose and vote on projects to improve Somerville. The Working Group, made up of 11 residents and one City Councilor, reviewed recommendations and decided how this initiative will be rolled out in an equitable, inclusive, and engaging manner. Their final work product can be viewed here: Participatory Budgeting Guidebook.
Worldwide
Participatory Budgeting began in Brazil in the 1980s and allows citizens to vote on how they would like to see a portion of government funds spent in the community. It has since expanded to more than 11,000 processes in nations, cities, and educational institutions in over 71 countries. More information can be found in the World PB Atlas.
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