Participatory budgeting
Participatory budgeting is a way of engaging residents in discussions, planning, and decision-making regarding the use of public funds.
In Vaasa, residents are able to propose and decide how a specific amount of money is spent.
Based on suggestions from residents, the city has already created a cherry blossom park by Onkilahti Bay and a flower meadow in Vaskiluoto, provided toys for daycare centres, installed larger bins and more benches along the Waterside Route, and opened a winter swimming spot in the Inner Harbour. In 2025, the winning idea was rowboats available for borrowing.
For 2026, we have allocated €50,000 for participatory budgeting, of which part comes from the Green Leaf year prize money. In honour of Green Leaf year, ideas should promote sustainability and protecting the environment as well as the wellbeing of Vaasa residents. Read more about the Green Leaf year here.
The total budget available is €50,000. Residents can also propose smaller projects with lower costs. Respecting the results of the vote, we will implement one or more proposals, depending on their cost.
See below for the 2026 schedule and take part!
Schedule for 2026
- Collecting ideas from 14 Jan to 8 Feb 2026
- Voting for the winner from 11 to 29 March 2026
- Announcing the winner on 10 April 2026
How can I participate? Share your ideas! Vote!
Submit your idea using this form by 8 February 2026.
You can also participate by voting for your favourite among the best ideas. Voting will open on this site on 11 March 2026.
How will the ideas be evaluated?
The submitted ideas will be reviewed by a working group, which includes representatives from each of the city’s sectors. The City Board will decide, based on the working group’s proposal, which ideas will be put to a vote.
The ideas will be assessed against the following criteria:
- The idea can be implemented within the allocated budget and in a way that allows for its potential future maintenance.
- The idea is in line with the values of the City of Vaasa.
- The idea promotes the well-being of Vaasa residents, strengthens the sense of community, boosts happiness, and brings joy to as many people as possible.
- The idea helps mitigate climate change and promotes environmental well-being by, for example:
- Increasing biodiversity
- Promoting the circular economy
- Combatting noise or light pollution
- Saving water or improving the condition of natural water bodies.
No idea is wasted; all of them are shared with the city’s departments for their information and added to the city’s ‘idea bank’, for future use in the development of services.
Initiatives from previous years
- 2025 Rowing boats for borrowing, budget €15,000
- 2024: Waste bins and benches along the Waterfront Route, budget €15,000
- 2023: Winter swimming spot in the Inner Harbour, budget €15,000
- 2022: Toys for daycare centres, budget €5,000
- 2021: Happiness meadow in Vaskiluoto, budget €5,000
- 2020: Cherry blossom park in Onkilahti, budget €5,000