Participatory Budgeting as a Tool for the Participation of Citizens in the Process of Distributing Municipal Finances: Russian and Foreign Experience in Legal Regulation

The article is dedicated to the study of participatory budgeting as a tool for engaging citizens in the allocation of municipal finances. The relevance of the topic is driven by the growing demand for transparency and democratization of governance, as well as the inclusion of participatory budgeting in strategic documents of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the theoretical foundations, Russian and foreign experiences in implementing participatory budgeting, identify problems in its legal regulation, and develop recommendations for its improvement. The methodology includes comparative legal analysis, the study of regulatory legal acts, scientific literature, and the generalization of practices. The authors highlight the key principles of participatory budgeting: transparency, citizen involvement, and accountability. Successful foreign cases (Brazil, Europe, Asia) are considered, emphasizing the role of adaptation to local conditions. In Russian practice, positive effects are noted, such as an increase in the number of implemented projects. However, systemic problems are identified: limited scale, social passivity, technological inequality, and a lack of competencies in municipal bodies. Concrete measures are proposed to address them: the adoption of a federal law on participatory budgeting, the establishment of a minimum share of funding, integration into national projects, digitalization of processes, educational programs for citizens and officials, and others. The necessity of taking into account regional specifics and developing feedback mechanisms is emphasized. The study confirms that participatory budgeting contributes to strengthening trust between the government and society and increases management efficiency but requires systemic support at the legislative and institutional levels. Further digitalization and adaptation of foreign experience are identified as promising areas.