Guadalajara municipalities advance participatory budgeting initiatives

Municipalities in the province of Guadalajara are advancing participatory budgeting initiatives to involve citizens in local investment decisions.

In Marchamalo, the local government has launched the ‘Marchamalo Decide’ project. Supported by a 5,000 euro subsidy from the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, the municipality has allocated 150,000 euros of its own budget to this initiative. The project aims to utilize digital tools and specialized consultancy to facilitate citizen engagement, building on eight years of continuous experience in participatory processes.

Meanwhile, the city of Guadalajara is conducting its 2026-2027 participatory budgeting process with a total investment of 600,000 euros. Following an initial phase of receiving 55 proposals from neighborhood associations and entities, municipal technical services have identified 35 viable projects. These proposals, which will face a public vote in September, cover various sectors including public spaces (40%), urban infrastructure and accessibility (31%), sports facilities, culture, and mobility.