The People's Budget
is a participatory budgeting project led by volunteers and in partnership with Building Healthy Communities Merced, where residents engage and directly decide how to spend a portion of public dollars. The People's Budget in Merced is the first participatory budgeting process implemented at the County level in the United States.

The People's Budget Steering Committee 2017-18 with Supervisor Lor.
Impact
PB 2018 - 2019
Thank you to residents of Merced County District 2 who voted for this year's projects!
Much appreciation to our Steering Committee and volunteers for your hard work.
Connect with the following projects approved by the Board of Supervisors to learn more about what they are doing:
-
Play Adventures, $3,000
-
Merced Youth Connect App, $5,000
-
Youth Connect Homeless Outreach, $7,500
-
Valley Crisis Center, $7,500
-
KiDS Discovery Station, $10,000
PB 2017 - 2018
Our volunteer Steering Committee drafted the guidelines of the People's Budget and implemented the year-long process. On July 10, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved the following projects:
-
Tsunami Collaborations for free Concerts in the Park, $10,000
-
Merced County Food Bank, $10,000
-
Healthy House Within a MATCH Coalition for Community Garden, $4,000
-
Merced Local Food Project for the 18th Street People's Garden, a community garden, $6,000
The 18th Street People's Garden, in partnership with Merced CropMobster, is now providing free produce to families during this pandemic at the People's Pantry. No questions asked, just bring gloves and your reusable bag every Saturday at 1 pm. 936 W. 18th St, Merced. Soon to launch is the People's Fridge. Stay tuned!
Thank you, volunteers, for successfully launching the first PB process at the county level in the Nation.
