Popular participation in government budget: participatory budgeting in four municipalities in southern Brazil

Abstract

Public budgeting functions have changed several times over the centuries, from mere legislative control instrument on the executive reaching more modern concepts, since it is seen as a planning tool, efficient management and, more recently, popular participation. Thus, this study has the objective of analyzing the discussion in the literature of some participatory budgeting experiences developed in Brazil since 1988 Constitution. It attempted to rescue some achievements obtained through citizen participation as well as the importance of participatory budgeting as a tool to ensure popular participation in drawing up government budget. There were analyzed experiences described in the literature on some participatory budgeting implementation in the municipalities of Porto Alegre (RS), Biguaçu (SC), Blumenau (SC), and Chapecó (SC). Those experiences demonstrate that participatory budgeting achievements outweigh mere public participation in budgeting, also influencing the development of public policies. However, government commitment, or lack of it, directly affects implementation and maintenance of participatory budgeting.