What are the main difficulties that municipal administrations face in implementing PB?

A first difficulty is related to the lack of capacity of the administrative apparatus to implement the process. In most cases, the administrations have difficulty adapting to the new demands placed on them: a different type of dialogue with citizens, work outside of normal hours, work in the neighbourhoods, etc.

A second important problem relates to the systems of information managed by the community and the low quality of information presented to participants. Other difficulties also occur with some frequency, and not only in Brazil.  These include the accumulation of projects which have been approved but not carried out, insufficient resources to meet the demands, municipal budget deficits, lack of public participation, disputes and tensions among political parties, the clientelistic political system and difficulties with the legislature and the City Council.

Without the introduction of new models of public management (functioning with programmes and objectives, evaluation and accountability of the different municipal departments, transparency, new budgetary accounting methods, capacity for
cross-sectoral action among municipal areas, etc.), the efficiency of the participatory process will be reduced.

Increase of municipal income and investments through the collection of taxes, sound fiscal policy, elimination of corruption and the optimisation (even reduction) of expenses are important aspects of public management reform, as they allow the Participatory Budget process to have a significant impact on the quality of life of the population, in particular those most in need.