Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting 2026 - 46th Ward Community Budget!

Each year, every Alderperson receives $1.5 million for ward infrastructure projects — one of the few funding sources for street repaving, alley resurfacing, and critical improvements. In the 46th Ward, Alderwoman Angela Clay is asking neighbors to decide how to spend $1M on neighborhood upgrades through participatory budgeting.

Let us know your ideas here, through our online form!

  • The idea must be a "capital improvement," e.g. bricks, cement, asphalt, and steel. PB money cannot be used to purchase equipment or hire staff.

  • The idea must be for public property - city streets, sidewalks, alleys, or public parks and schools.

  • The idea must be in the 46th Ward.

After ideas are vetted, all residents over the age of 14 who live or attend school in the ward are eligible to vote on how they would like these funds prioritized. Voting will take place at the end of 2026.

We will try to include all feasible ideas submitted before July 31, 2026 in the 2027 ballot.  Ideas submitted later may be included next year.

You can also see how menu funds were spent in 2025 and 2024 here!

Participatory Budgeting 2025 - Let’s Fix the Sidewalks!

Each Ward Office in Chicago gets to allocate $1.5M in infrastructure spending through the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT).  For the 2025 Construction Season, Alderwoman Clay has chosen to prioritize our pedestrian infrastructure and is looking to spend at least $1M on repairing sidewalks, intersections, and ADA ramps within the 46th Ward.

Neighbors have a lot of ways to get around our city – driving, taking public transit, biking, walking – but everyone is a pedestrian at the beginning and end of their trip.  Broken sidewalks present a fall hazard and make life difficult for everyone, and especially neighbors with mobility challenges, parents with strollers, elders with grocery carts, and runners at risk of tripping.  Uneven sidewalks also create icy patches in the winter that can endanger anybody.

Sidewalk repair work through CDOT can cost anything from a few thousand dollars for a few panels up to $200,000 for an entire block facing drainage problems. Our goal – if possible within our budget – is to fix all severely degraded sidewalks in the Ward and use future seasons of Participatory Budgeting to fund more customized projects.

To do this, WE NEED YOUR HELP.  While our staff have been pounding the pavement and working with residents and block clubs to identify sidewalks in need of repair, we want to hear from all ward residents about which sidewalks need to be fixed.

To submit a sidewalk repair request through participatory budgeting – please call our office, email us at info@46thward.com or use this form.  Once you have submitted your request, if you share your email with us, we will keep you updated on your requests’ estimated cost and progress and we will publicly share all sidewalk locations where repairs have been requested, along with their current status.

If you would like to request infrastructure improvements or repairs that are not sidewalk related, you may still do so by calling or emailing our office.

You can see how menu funds were spent in 2025 and 2024 here!

  • Stay tuned for more information this summer on Participatory Budgeting 2024! In the meantime, you can submit a potential project or repair below.

    What is “menu money” and what can it be spent on?

    Every year, each Alderperson receives over $1 million for ward infrastructure improvements. This is the sole source of funding made available to Alderpeople to repave streets, resurface alleys, and make critically needed infrastructure improvements.

    There are a few basic considerations for menu money allocation, they include:

    • The project must be a "capital improvement" e.g. bricks, cement, asphalt, and steel 

    • The project must be for public property - city streets, sidewalks, alleys, or public parks and schools.

    • The project must be in the 46th Ward.

    There are a number of things menu money allocation cannot include, some key examples:

    • Does NOT include routine repairs like filling potholes, graffiti removal, requesting a new garbage cart (This can be done via 3-1-1)

    • Does NOT include any non permanent infrastructure including purchasing equipment, hiring staff, or funding programs.   

    • Trees are not PB eligible. To request a new tree, please email info@46thward.com.

    There are a number of standard types of projects that include pre-set prices from CDOT (aka a “menu” of options– where the term “menu money” gets its name!).  Projects outside of this “menu” can in some cases still receive funding allocation, but they often require a more in-depth review and pricing process.  Standard projects include: Residential street resurfacing, alley repaving, bike lane infrastructure, street lights, and pedestrian safety infrastructure such as bump outs and pedestrian refuge islands.  

    Although sidewalks are sometimes considered and voted on as part of our participatory budgeting process, given the large number of sidewalks in need of repairs, the 46th Ward office will prioritize blocks that have sidewalks with large portions in great need of repair. We encourage individual homeowners seeking to fix the sidewalk immediately adjacent to their home to explore the City's shared sidewalk program.

    Stay tuned for more information this summer on Participatory Budgeting 2024! In the meantime, you can submit a potential project or repair below.

  • Voting has concluded! The 46th Ward office is now working with CDOT and other relevants departments to get cost estimates for proposed project. Please stay tuned for updates. All authorized projects will be posted below.

    The results of those surveys were as follows:

    • 51% of funds should be spent on repairs, 49% on new infrastructure

    • Priorities for repairs are 1) sidewalks, 2) residential streets, and 3) alley reconstruction

    • Priorities for new infrastructure are 1) pedestrian safety, 2) park and green space improvements, and 3) lighting improvements