ABSTRACT
Since 2009, citizens in Chicago’s 49th ward have voted on how to spend part of the $1.3 million dollars in discretionary funds that are made available annually for capital improvements in each of the city’s wards. There are parameters on the type of projects that can be proposed as well as restrictions on how the funds can be spent. Each proposed project is subject to final approval by the city or relevant agencies operating in the ward. In the main, all projects have preliminary approval before going on the ballot (Gordon 2012; Moore 2012).
