For the first time, Boston residents get some say in how public money is spent

If you had $2 million to invest in your community, how would you spend it?

If you’re a resident of Boston, you have until Feb. 15 to cast your vote in Boston’s first city-wide participatory budget.

Participatory budgeting is when residents come together to collectively decide how to spend public dollars. Bostonians can vote for up to five projects from a list of 14 ideas proposed by fellow residents.

Kendra Patterson is a steering committee member of the Better Budget Alliance, a local coalition advocating for greater democratic control over Boston’s budget. She joined WBUR's The Common to discuss this year's projects and the role of participatory budgets in a democracy.