Participatory budgeting as a democratic innovation in powiats?

Participatory budgeting is a tool of social engagement that for many years has been used by local government authorities in Poland. The aim of this article is to investigate how the tool functions in powiats [counties], with particular focus on verifying whether the process of its implementation has been successfully turned into an opportunity for bringing democratic innovation. Drawing on the analysis results, the authors notice that participatory budgeting has proved to be an innovative tool of social engagement adapted into the current system governing powiat administration.