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Zapopan: Participatory Budget of the Government of Zapopan

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The Participatory Budget of the municipality of Zapopan is a participatory democracy mechanism that allows citizens to directly decide the allocation of between 15% and 25% of the annual budget collected from property tax, designated for public works that improve quality of life in communities. Through this process, residents identify needs, propose projects, and participate in voting to determine which works the municipal government should implement, strengthening the relationship between citizens and government.

Since its implementation in 2016, this mechanism has become one of the most significant participatory experiences in the country. Participation has grown steadily: while 52,683 people took part in the first edition, by 2025 participation had reached 136,127 people, representing an increase of more than 250%. In total, 710,516 people have participated between 2016 and 2025, positioning Zapopan as one of the municipalities with the highest levels of citizen participation in participatory budgeting in Mexico. This sustained growth reflects public trust in the mechanism and consolidates the municipality as a national reference in promoting participatory democracy.

As a result of this democratic exercise, 111 public works projects have been implemented across different areas of the municipality, directly benefiting 114 neighborhoods and indirectly impacting around 1.5 million residents, with a total investment of 1,539,044,320 Mexican pesos. These interventions have mainly focused on the creation and rehabilitation of parks, sports facilities, and community spaces, strengthening social cohesion and improving quality of life.

In an innovative approach, Zapopan is the only municipality in Mexico that directs its participatory budget toward building a “City for Girls and Boys,” prioritizing safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces that promote play, social interaction, and childhood development. Additionally, since 2024, adolescents aged 15 and over have been allowed to participate in the voting process, recognizing their right to be actively involved in decisions that shape their environment.

Through this practice, Zapopan demonstrates that when citizens participate and decide, the city is transformed.

More information:
https://participacionciudadana.zapopan.gob.mx/

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1921.pdf

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Zapopan: Participatory Budget of the Government of Zapopan

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