Lahti has published an evaluation of its participatory budgeting model, OSBU, covering the years 2020–2025. The evaluation finds that the model has grown from a pilot into an established form of participation, but its connection to the city’s broader decision-making and strategic planning remains weak. The City Council has decided that participatory budgeting will continue every two years.
What the evaluation found
The evaluation was carried out by Mikko Rask, Associate Professor at the University of Helsinki, and Väki Insight. The impacts are most visible at the local level, for example in the development of parks, events and everyday environments. The city also uses participatory budgeting as a tool for democratic education, giving children and young people a way to influence the use of public funds.
The weak points concern the link to the rest of the city’s work. The objectives of OSBU need to be clarified, and information on residents’ needs generated during the process should be used more systematically by city departments and in decision-making. Residents’ experience is mixed: brainstorming is seen as inspiring, but the later stages of the process remain unclear to many.
The evaluation recommends continuing the scheme and concludes that its significance outweighs the resources invested in it. It calls for more participation among different population groups and a more open and transparent process for both residents and city employees.
The 2025 round in numbers
The 2025 round was the fourth. City experts assess all submitted ideas, and residents of all ages can vote online, at the Palvelutori service centre or in libraries.
| 2025 round | Figure |
|---|---|
| Ideas submitted | 909 |
| Ideas on the ballot | 162 |
| Voters | 3,019 (about 2.5% of residents) |
| Children and young people among voters | about one third |
| Budget for implementation in 2026 | 200,000 euros |
The budget is divided into five equal parts of 40,000 euros: the southern, northern, eastern and central areas, plus ideas for the whole city. A single idea can cost at most 40,000 euros.
What happens next
According to the city, 40 resident-proposed ideas are being implemented across Lahti this year; the OSBU page lists 41 ideas selected in the vote. In 2027 the operating model will be developed with residents and staff and through peer learning from other cities. The next resident round will begin no earlier than late 2027, when residents will again brainstorm and vote on how the city uses 250,000 euros allocated for participatory budgeting.