All Helsinki residents aged 13 and over can submit suggestions in October at omastadi.hel.fi. Help in submitting suggestions is available at city service points throughout the city. In addition, the city and its partners will organise joint events where city residents can brainstorm suggestions. Voluntary OmaStadi sponsors are available in the areas, providing advice and sharing information about OmaStadi.
The suggestions can be related to anything the city does. The money can be used for the city’s services, purchases and investments. It is also possible to come up with something completely new that could be part of the city’s services and activities. However, suggestions for ideas for participatory budgeting must meet certain criteria.
Helsinki is not yet ready, but is constantly developing according to the residents’ wishes
The city will evaluate all the suggestions and, if necessary, modify and combine them in order for them to be successful in next spring’s vote. In the spring, Helsinki residents can vote on their preferred suggestions. The city will implement the suggestions that get the most votes.
“It has been great to see how Helsinki’s residents have embraced OmaStadi. Many have already started to come up with ideas and discuss them in their own networks. We also hope that the city residents acting as OmaStadi sponsors can for their part get people interested in brainstorming proposals in different parts of the city,” says Johanna Sinkkonen, Participation Manager.
Almost EUR 13 million has been spent on implementing suggestions made by residents. You can follow the implementation of the proposals on the OmaStadi website. Many of them will be completed this year.
“The two previous rounds of OmaStadi have provided city residents with an artificial turf football ground, an electric charter boat, outdoor gyms, robot clubs and winter swimming spots. Participatory budgeting has served as a bridge-builder and path between residents, the city and organisations,” says Kirsi Verkka, Development Manager.