Boston opens $2 million participatory budgeting window through July 31

Boston has opened its 2026 Ideas in Action participatory budgeting cycle, giving residents a chance to help direct $2 million of city spending.

Idea collection runs from July 1 through July 31, 2026. Residents can submit ideas online at participate.boston.gov, by calling 617-635-3059, or in person at City Hall and selected BCYF Community Centers.

What qualifies

The city says all Boston residents, regardless of age, can submit ideas. Eligible proposals must be one-time expenses, feasible to implement, and consistent with city rules. Ideas can cover programs, services, or physical improvements to city property, but not things like MBTA service changes or private-building repairs.

What happens next

Boston’s timeline calls for proposal development in October and November 2026, public voting in January and February 2027, and implementation of winning ideas in spring 2027.

For residents, the key point is simple: this is not Boston’s full budget, but it is a real pot of money with a nearby deadline. Anyone with a neighborhood idea has until July 31 to submit it.

Sources

• City of Boston: Ideas in Action program page
• Boston Participatory Budgeting portal