Some Greensboro residents want a say in how taxpayer money is used in their community.

Around 100 people in Greensboro are organizing to develop a program called Participatory Budgeting.

"It simply is when a portion of municipal funds are set aside so that residents can work through a democratic, open transparent process so they can decide how to spend that money in their own community. People get together, propose projects and work up a detailed cost analysis and proposals that are put on a ballot and people in the community get to vote on which projects they want see implemented," said David Reed, an organizer with the Fund for Democratic Communities.

Reed said the city of Greensboro’s proposed budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year is a little over $450 milllion. He said the group is asking for the ability to directly decide how to spend 1 percent, or $4.5 million of the budget.

Participatory Budgeting has been around for years and is used in hundreds of cities around the world, including Chicago and New York. Some examples of what other cities have used the funds for include street resurfacing and lighting, a dog park and youth athletic programs. Sohnie Black, organizer with the Fund for Democratic Communities said the program helps unite neighborhoods.

"You are actually able to be there and you learn about what is going on in other parts of your city from the people who live there and another thing that is exciting to me is that other places that PB has been done in the U.S., it is a very open process and what I mean by open is that in Chicago they allow people as young as 16 participate and you don't have to be documented, so a lot of people's whose voices are normally not heard are heard," said Black.

The Fund for Democratic Communities is planning an information session on February 19 at 2:30 p.m. at Glenwood Coffee and Books in Greensboro.

The group will formally present participatory budgeting to city council on February 21.