Mazovia Citizen's Budget – an example of the Frugal Concept
What does the principle of frugality mean?
The principle of frugality means that public funds should be spent in a thrifty and prudent manner. This means that one should strive to achieve the greatest possible benefits with the least possible expenditure. In practice, the principle of frugality means:
- Avoiding unnecessary expenses: Each expense should be carefully analyzed to make sure it is necessary.
- Choosing the cheapest options: Different products and services should be compared and those offering the best value for money should be chosen.
- Striving for efficiency: Public funds should be used in the most efficient way possible and should bring the greatest possible benefits to the greatest possible number of people.
BOM as it is called in Warsaw, is based on the principle of "frugality", which means using the available resources in the most economical and efficient way possible. This means that public funds should be spent in a thrifty and prudent manner, and each project should bring the greatest possible benefits to the greatest possible number of residents.
The principle of "frugality" in the BOM is implemented in several ways:
- Setting a spending limit: the pool of funds allocated to the BOM is strictly defined, which forces residents to be prudent and prioritize submitted projects.
- Substantive evaluation of projects: before being allowed to vote, each project is evaluated in terms of its compatibility with the province's strategic goals, feasibility and cost estimation.
- Voting: the BOM's voting system allows the selection of those projects that enjoy the greatest support from residents, while staying within the limit of available funds.
- Monitoring and evaluation: after projects are implemented, they are evaluated to assess their effectiveness and impact on residents.
An example of the implementation of the frugality principle in the BOM is the project titled "Modernization of outdoor lighting and replacement of lamps with LED lighting at the Mazowiecki Szpital Specjalistyczny Sp. z o.o. in Radom". This project implements the frugality principle through the following assumptions:
- Energy saving:
- The use of energy-saving LED lamps allows for a significant reduction in electricity consumption compared to traditional lamps. It is estimated that the savings can be as high as 70%.
- This means lower electricity bills for the hospital, which allows for real financial savings.
- Durability:
- LED lamps have a much longer lifespan than traditional lamps. This means that they do not need to be replaced as often, which generates savings in operating costs.
- Less frequent lamp replacement also means less environmental impact.
- Use of existing infrastructure:
- The project used the existing lighting infrastructure. This means that there was no need to build new power lines, which helped to reduce the cost of the project.
- Increased safety:
- Modern LED lighting provides better visibility on the hospital grounds, which improves the safety of patients, staff and visitors.
- Better lighting can also help to reduce the number of accidents and dangerous incidents.
- Ecological aspect:
- LED lighting is more environmentally friendly than traditional lighting. LED lamps do not emit harmful substances and consume less energy.
Another example of a completed BOM project is "We turn, we sculpt, we fire" - equipping the occupational therapy workshop at the Centre for Vocational and Further Education in Ostrołęka", which involved equipping the occupational therapy workshop at the Centre for Vocational and Further Education in Ostrołęka. The aim of the project is to: modernize the workshop equipment, expand the range of therapeutic activities, increase the attractiveness of the activities for students and improve the quality of education for future occupational therapists. The project includes the purchase of the following equipment: a ceramic kiln, a potter's wheel, plaster moulds, tools for turning and sculpting and plastic materials.
The project "Let's turn, sculpt and fire" is an example of a successful project that has contributed to improving the quality of education at the CKZiU in Ostrołęka. The project shows how important it is to equip schools with modern equipment so that students can acquire practical skills and develop their passions.
The principle of frugality is an important principle that allows for the effective and responsible. BOM is a good example of how this principle can be put into practice.