Vote on your favorite safe routes to school projects!

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

 

Attend the Election Kickoff

April 20th, 2024

1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Gonzales Car Show

Fourth Street in Downtown Gonzales

 

Participatory Budgeting

Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process where Gonzales residents or workers ages 16 years and older can vote on projects to make it safer for kids and families to get to and from school. The Gonzales Safe Routes to School Steering committee was formed in September 2023 to design and implement the Gonzales Participatory Budgeting process.

What is the Voting Process?

    1. Creating the Ballot – The Gonzales Safe Routes to School Steering Committee, made up of residents and community advocates, worked with Safe Routes to School program partners and the City of Gonzales to develop a list of projects for the community to vote on.
    2. Election Kickoff – The Election will kick-off with at the Gonzales Car Show on April 20th 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 April 18th to May 18th 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 by the end of 2024.

What are the voting rules?

    • Voting is open to all Gonzales residents or workers aged 16 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 18th, to count

 

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

Vote for your favorite projects by May 18th!

Vote online here!

Voting is live April 18th. Read the Gonzales Participatory Budgeting Voter Guide linked below to learn more about the projects on the ballot.

Participatory Budgeting Voter Guide: English/Spanish

 

Or pick-up a ballot and voter guide at one of the ballot-drop-off locations below:

    • La Gloria Elementary School, 220 Elko St, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday
    • Fairview Middle School, 401 4th St, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday
    • Gonzales High School, 501 5th St, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday
    • Gonzales City Hall, 147 4th St, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday
    • Gonzales Library, 851 5th St, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Tuesday – Thursday and 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Friday – Saturday
    • St. Theodore’s Catholic Church, 116 S Belden St, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Monday – Friday

 

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 Saturday, April 20th from 1:00 – 4:00 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 18th!

Who is eligible to vote?

Gonzales residents or workers 16 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 Saturday, April 20th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at the Gonzales Car Show at Fourth Street in Downtown Gonzales. You can also learn more about the projects in the Gonzales 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 Saturday, April 20th from 1:00 – 4:00 pm;
  2. Pick-up a ballot and cast your vote at one of the ballot drop-off locations [MAP LINK] between April 18th – May 18th; or
  3. Vote online [VOTE HERE]
    Make sure to cast your vote before May 18th!

What happens to the projects after the election?

The top voted projects will be recommended to the City of Gonzales to be constructed. The City of Gonzales 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 aaron@tamcmonterey.org to learn more about the Gonzales Safe Routes to School Steering Committee.

 

 

Vote Online Here!