Participatory Budgeting Pilot Program Comes to Council District 6
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING PILOT PROGRAM ALBUQUERQUE - PBABQ
Albuquerque residents have long been out of the conversation when it comes to their communities budgeting priorities. Participatory Budgeting changes all that and gets our residents and constituents involved in deciding how City funds are spent.
Participatory Budgeting PBABQ gets our residents involved in deciding how City funds are spent, specifically General Obligation Bond funding that can fund capital projects. PBABQ began as a collaboration between students and faculty from the University of New Mexico and community members. PBABQ has been organizing since November of 2023, with special interest in PB’s ability to uplift marginalized communities.
District 6 Councilor Nichole Rogers has partnered with Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque (or PBABQ) to develop the program for community members in the District.
Albuquerque's At-Risk Population
Councilor Rogers has designated $1.5 million of her Set-Aside funding for capital projects within District 6. Community members living in District 6 will work together with City Departments and other partnerships to implement a Participatory Budgeting (PB) model. These funds can be used for capital projects like lighting, street improvements, beautification, etc. The most important part of the PB model is its ability to uplift, support, and seek voices of community members living in District 6 to generate ideas for capital projects and their eventual implementation. While Councilor Rogers is launching a pilot in Council District 6, the long-term goal is to implement the model in City Council Districts throughout the City.
Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque Steering Committee is taking applications NOW!
The pilot program in District 6 is now taking applications from community members (through September 3rd) to fill up to 20 seats on the District 6 Steering Committee. The District 6 Steering Committee's work will create methods and processes designed to gather ideas for projects from individuals living, working, and studying in District 6 and further input on how Councilor Rogers’ Set-Aside (GO Bond) funding could be utilized for the long-term benefit of District 6.
Only community members who live, work, and/or study in District 6 are eligible to serve on the Committee. PBABQ will evaluate applications from community members to serve on the Committee based upon the following criteria:
-- Local knowledge of what is happening "on the ground" in District 6
-- Lived experience living, working, and/or studying in District 6
-- Attendance at PBABQ public meetings and/or working group meetings
-- Interest and passion in being civically engaged in the PB process in District 6 and other CABQ civic engagement opportunities
For additional information, or to get assistance with your application, please email: [email protected]