Инициативное бюджетирование – тенденции развития в российских регионах и проблемы оценки: кейс Свердловской области

Abstract

Introduction: majority of the Russian Federation regions have created the regulatory framework and institutional conditions for the development of participatory budgeting; projects are selected and financed on a competitive basis. However, selecting forms and methods of participatory budgeting, evaluating the projects submitted, analyzing the effectiveness of the funds used and implemented projects in the short and long term still remain debatable issues. Objectives: generalization of approaches to assessing the effectiveness of participatory budgeting and analysis of initiative budgeting practices in the Sverdlovsk Region. Methods: dynamic and comparative analysis, generalization. Results: the institutional conditions for practical implementation of participatory budgeting in the Sverdlovsk Region have been established, including the regulatory legal framework: stages of project development and presentation; project selection criteria ensuring transparency of the competitive selection procedure. From 2017 (the implementation start) to 2022 in the Sverdlovsk Region the number of projects submitted to the regional competition increased 13 times, the number of winning projects – 11 times, which indicates the progressive development in participatory budgeting. Analyses were carried out on the following: municipalities participation; projects submitted to the regional competition and recognized as winners; existing problems in project implementation. The problems that slow down the implementation of participatory budgeting have been formulated. The tools that contribute to the development of participatory budgeting have been identified, as well as the expected effects from introducing digital product on participatory budgeting at all stages – from accepting applications for regional selection to project implementation. Conclusions: participatory budgeting allows citizens not only to participate in planning directions, implementing projects and monitoring local budget expenditures, but also to solve pressing social issues and prevent emerging conflicts with authorities. In the Sverdlovsk region, there is a positive trend in participatory budgeting practices, which indicates that both local authorities and the population are aware of the possibilities of participatory mechanisms.