Candelaria Launches Public Vote for €500,000 Participatory Budget
The Candelaria City Council has launched a participatory budgeting initiative, inviting residents to vote on 225 proposed projects to allocate €500,000 of municipal funds by October 15.
Candelaria is entering a key stage in managing its public funds as it begins the process of deciding how to allocate €500,000 of the municipal budget. The Villa Mariana town council reports that 225 citizen proposals have been submitted and are currently being reviewed to ensure they are both affordable and practical.
This initiative aims to give residents a direct say in the town's financial planning. To help shape these priorities, the council is hosting a series of community meetings between September 15 and October 14. Mónica Yanes, the council member leading the project, emphasized that public support is essential, as the most popular proposals will be prioritized for completion by 2027.
In addition to attending these meetings, residents can use the digital portal participa.candelaria.es to participate. The site allows users to view the list of projects that passed the technical review, as well as see why other ideas were excluded. Voting is open until October 15, marking the final step before the chosen projects are added to the local government’s investment plan.
Participatory budgeting is becoming increasingly common in Spain as a way to make local government more transparent and decentralized. By letting residents decide where money should be spent, the Candelaria City Council hopes to ensure that public funds are used effectively and that local policies truly reflect the needs of the community.