Apparently the recent elections authorized something called "participatory budgeting" in Boston (the link seems to say it's more of an exploration than a cut and dried deal). First I'd heard of it, although there's an organization devoted to promoting it.
Without knowing anything about it I don't like it. I don't get many comments on this blog, but the longest exchange I had with anyone was on this issue, although neither the proponent nor I called it that. I think my resistance is based on inheriting some "Progressive" or "goo-goo" ideas--the concept that professionals in management know better than mere citizens about what is needed and how to do it. (I wrote the preceding sentence with tongue-in-cheek, and am only half serious.)
I may look at it more seriously now, or I may get lazy and pass.