대의민주제 하에서 운영되어온 공공지출 결정에 대하여 시민들의 직접민주제적인 참여 기회가 확대되는 것은 재정민주주의, 참여민주주의 측면에서 바람직한 측면이 있다. 그러나 과연 민주성 측면에서의 의의만으로 참여예산제도 등이 도입 확산되는 것이 바람직한가 하는 반론도 있을 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 정부의 공공지출 결정에 직접민주제를 적용하는 주민참여예산제도가 과연 민주성 외에 절차적 합리성을 지니고 있는가를 검토해보고자 하였다. 직접민주제의 도입이 실제로 간접민주제의 한계를 보완하여 정치적 및 절차적 합리성을 제고하고 있는가를 현재 운영 중인 주민참여예산제도를 사례로 고찰하였다. 본 연구에서는 절차적 합리성을 절차적 구조마련, 의사결정규칙, 의사반영이라는 세 가지 기준에 의해서 분석하였는바, 아직은 절차적 구조마련 정도에 그치고 있는 경우가 대부분인 것으로 나타났다. 즉, 절차적 합리성 측면에서 직접민주제가 가져올 것으로 기대한 측면의 의의가 크게 나타나지 못하고 있었다. 현실적으로 주민의 정치참여를 조장하여 정치적 합리성을 높이기 위해 도입되고 있는 이러한 직접민주주의 제도들이 아직까지는 절차적 합리성 확보를 위한 전제조건을 만족시키지 못하고 있고, 보완대책 마련이 더 필요한 상황임을 보여준다.

Nowadays, it is required to examine that the expansion of direct democracy is desirable on the public expenditure. At this point, decision about public expenditure through the direct democracy should be considered with rationality. By analyzing the citizen participatory budget system, this research inquire into that direct democracy do encourage political rationality and complement the indirect rationality. In order to find the significance in the rationality of the citizen participatory budget system, procedural rationality is used as a analysis tool. As a result of the analysis focused on procedural rationality, most cases in present are set with only procedural structure for the citizen participatory budget system. The procedural rationality is the major purpose when the citizen participatory budget system is accepted. However, the procedural rationality is not yet established as it should. Ultimately, this analysis is intended to consider how to response for the demand about direct democracy in the public expenditure.

Nowadays, it is required to examine that the expansion of direct democracy is desirable on the public expenditure. At this point, decision about public expenditure through the direct democracy should be considered with rationality. By analyzing the citizen participatory budget system, this research inquire into that direct democracy do encourage political rationality and complement the indirect rationality. In order to find the significance in the rationality of the citizen participatory budget system, procedural rationality is used as a analysis tool. As a result of the analysis focused on procedural rationality, most cases in present are set with only procedural structure for the citizen participatory budget system. The procedural rationality is the major purpose when the citizen participatory budget system is accepted. However, the procedural rationality is not yet established as it should. Ultimately, this analysis is intended to consider how to response for the demand about direct democracy in the public expenditure.

Procedural Rationality, Citizen Participatory Budget System, Public Expenditure