Press Release: Launching the participatory budget of San Dorligo della Valle - Dolina

We are delighted to launch the first participatory budgeting process for The Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle - Dolina.

The Municipality is one of the pioneers in Friuli Venezia Giulia in adopting a tool that overturns the decision-making pyramid: citizens will choose how to invest 1% of the municipal budget.

An image of the bilingual Italian and Slovenian logo of the Participatory Budget project of The Municipality of San Dorligo Della Valle - Dolina showing a blue outline of the municipality map, and its crest depicting a monument surrounded by a wreath and crown.

An experiment in bottom-up democracy that sets a standard, the Municipality of San Dorligo della Valle - Dolina is preparing to write an unprecedented page in the administrative management of the territory, becoming one of the only municipalities in Friuli Venezia Giulia, and among the first small-scale municipalities in Italy, to adopt a Participatory Budget.

On 11 June, at 6 p.m. at the France Prešeren Municipal Theatre in Bagnoli della Rosandra, the administration led by Mayor Aleksander Coretti will officially present this innovative civic participation tool.

The participatory budget represents a real revolution in the relationship between citizens and institutions: through a dedicated online platform, all residents over the age of 18 will be able to propose projects to improve the quality of life in the area and then vote to choose which ones to implement. The total value of the financed interventions will correspond to 1% of the total income of the municipal budget, which is roughly equivalent to € 80,000.00 for the year 2025, a figure that will allow the realisation of concrete and tangible projects.

What is participatory budgeting and how does it work?

'The concept is simple, in essence, the municipal administration refrains from deciding how to use part of the budget and lets the citizens have their say on priorities,' explains Mayor Aleksander Coretti. 'The underlying philosophy is therefore to overturn the decision-making pyramid: the choice comes from below and not from above. It is an exciting challenge'.

The project is supported by us, The Field Società Cooperativa, bringing expertise in participatory processes that will be alongside the municipality and citizens throughout all phases of the initiative. We will take care of the process and the use of the dedicated digital platform that will be launched on 11 June and provide methodological assistance to guarantee the effectiveness and transparency of the entire democratic process.

Timeline

The process includes several stages, marked by precise timelines. From 11 June to 15 October, the platform will remain open for the candidature of project proposals, which may range from urban furniture to the environment and public greenery, from culture to young people, from schools to social solidarity, and even sport and wellness. In parallel, information meetings will be organised in the seven hamlets of the municipality to ensure maximum participation and support citizens in planning, as well as a citizen support office for the submission of proposals.

A mixed commission, made up of representatives of the administration and citizens, will assess the technical feasibility of the proposals submitted, without, however, making any selection on merit. The final choice will in fact be made exclusively by the citizens through an online vote via the dedicated platform, which will take place from 16 to 30 November. On 3 December, a final public meeting will proclaim the winning projects, which will be implemented within 18 months by the municipal administration.

The initiative is part of a broader administrative renewal project that aims to radically transform the municipal decision-making method. The experience draws inspiration from neighbouring Slovenian municipalities that have already successfully experimented with this tool, demonstrating how direct participation can generate quality projects and strengthen the sense of community, but also better collaboration between administration and residents, highlighting local problems and helping to define priorities.

'One of the objectives of this administration's mandate is to change the method by which certain decisions are reached, involving all offices and, progressively, even individual citizens in the debate,' Mayor Coretti further emphasises, highlighting how the initiative is only the first step towards a more inclusive and transparent governance.

Participatory budgeting is not conceived as an isolated experiment, but as a tool destined to become a permanent part of the municipality's administrative practices. Already a new cycle is being planned for 2026, making civic participation a structural component of local public management.

The event on 11 June will be open to all citizens and will be attended by Mayor Coretti, Councillor Michele Di Donato and consultants Vid Tratnik and Duna Viezzoli from The Field Società Cooperativa. An unmissable opportunity to discover how every citizen can become active protagonists of the future of their territory.