Vote on your favorite safe routes to school projects!

Help decide how to spend a budget of $250,000 in the Soledad community to make it safer for kids to get to and from schools.

 

Attend the Election Kickoff

May 18th, 2023

4:00 – 8:00 pm

Soledad Farmer’s Market (Thursday Market)

Soledad Street and Front Street

 

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process where Soledad residents and workers ages 14 years and older can vote on projects to make it safer for kids and families to get to and from school. The Soledad Safe Routes to School Steering committee was formed in October 2022 to design and implement the Soledad Participatory Budgeting process.

What is the Voting Process?

1. 1. Creating the Ballot – The Soledad Safe Routes to School Steering Committee, made up of residents, students and community advocates, worked with Safe Routes to School program partners and the City of Soledad to develop a list of projects for the community to vote on.
   2. Election Kickoff – The Election will kick-off with at the May 18th Farmer’s Market where the public can learn about the projects, ask questions, and cast their vote.
   3. Voting – The public will be able to vote in the participatory budgeting election from May 18th to May 25th at ballot drop-off sites and online by clicking the button to the right.
   4. Election Results – The winning projects will be announced publicly in June. Projects funded through the Participatory Budgeting process will begin implementation as soon as the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan is adopted in Spring 2024.

What are the voting rules?

• • Voting is open to all Soledad residents or workers aged 14 and older
  • Only one ballot may be cast per person
  • You may choose up to three (3) projects on the ballot
  • Ballots must be submitted by the end-of-day May 25th, to count

 

Learn about the projects on the ballot in the Soledad Participatory Budgeting Voter Guide: English/Spanish

Frequently Asked Questions

What is participatory budgeting?

Participatory budgeting is a democratic process where community members decide how to spend part of a public budget. A Steering Committee was formed to design the election process. The participatory budgeting process is part of the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan.

How do I vote?

You can vote in-person at the Election Kickoff on Thursday, May 18th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm or you can pick-up a ballot and cast your vote at one of the ballot drop-off locations [MAP LINK HERE]. You can also vote online [VOTE HERE]. Make sure to cast your vote before May 25th!

Who is eligible to vote?

Soledad residents and workers 14 years old or older are eligible to vote in the participatory budgeting election.

How can I learn more about the projects?

You can learn more about the projects on the ballot at the Election Kickoff on Thursday, May 18th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at the Soledad Farmer’s Market at Encinal Street and Front Street. You can also learn more about the projects in the Soledad Participatory Budgeting Voter Guide: English/Spanish

How do I vote?

There are three ways to vote:

1. Vote in-person at the Election Kickoff on Thursday, May 18th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm;
2. Pick-up a ballot and cast your vote at one of the ballot drop-off locations [MAP LINK] between May 18th-25th; or
3. Vote online [VOTE HERE]

Make sure to cast your vote before May 25th!

What happens to the projects after the election?

The top voted projects will be recommended to the City of Soledad to be constructed. The City of Soledad will receive up to $250,000 from the Transportation Agency for Monterey County to construct the top-voted projects immediately following the Safe Routes to School Plan adoption in 2024.

How can I get involved?

If you’d like to get involved, email janneke@tamcmonterey.org to learn more about the Soledad Safe Routes to School Steering Committee.