The municipal council of Lagoa has announced a record €500,000 budget for its Orçamento Participativo (OP), an initiative that allows local citizens to suggest and vote for their own projects.
The sum is up from the €300,000 assigned per edition since the initiative was launched in 2014.
According to the council, the increase aims to reflect the growing involvement of the local community in the initiative and the complexity of proposals submitted in recent editions.
The new allocation represents approximately 0.68% of Lagoa’s municipal budget. For 2026, the maximum funding per project will be set at €125,000.
Mayor Luís Encarnação said the increased budget represents “a clear signal of the trust we place in the participation of our citizens. By increasing the available funds, we are creating the conditions to implement more structural projects with greater territorial and social impact, strengthening the legitimacy of decisions and bringing the municipality even closer to the community.”
Over the years, total investment through the programme has reached approximately €2 million, funding projects across the municipality. Several initiatives approved in previous editions remain under development or execution, including the redevelopment of the Mexilhoeira da Carregação playground, the Pumptrack Circuit, and the Bela Vista Parkour Park.
The municipality plans to continue organising participatory budgets in 2026, 2028 and 2030, alternating with a youth participatory budget in 2027 and 2029.
“The participation of Lagoa’s residents is essential in defining priorities and building a more balanced and inclusive municipality. This increased investment demonstrates our belief in shared governance, where every contribution counts,” the mayor added.
