Quality of Life Initiative FAQ
Better Life! More Fun! Smarter Kids!
Q. What is the Quality of Life Initiative?
A. It is a community investment in culture, history, art and science that will pay off almost immediately – and well into the future. It asks the November 2006 General Election voters to approve a 3/16th of 1% increase in the Gross Receipts Tax to create a stream of income for hundreds of organizations to enhance and expand their programs and make them more accessible to more people.
Q. Why should I vote for it?
A. Your vote can help open doors to both new experiences and old favorites for you and your family. It will enable your favorite programs to thrive and grow — to become even better. We will all have greater opportunities to see, to learn, to enjoy and to appreciate the benefits they bring us as individuals, families, and community.
Q. What institutions will benefit from this additional funding?
A. The beneficiaries of the funds are organizations that provide public programs based on culture, history, art and science, that have offices within Bernalillo County, and that range from small, non-profits to our pre-eminent zoo and museums. The program is intended to be as inclusive as possible as long as the organization meets certain minimum requirements.
Q. Who will manage the funds?
A. Funds will be managed by the County of Bernalillo, which in turn, will appoint a Cultural Advisory Board to advise the County Commission. The Board would be composed of people knowledgeable about the arts and cultural community. Every two years, the Cultural Advisory Board will put out Requests for Proposals to the arts and cultural organizations, evaluate responses, and develop a package of recommendations that will go to the County Commission.
Q. How will I know my tax dollars are being spent as they were intended?
A. The State legislation that enabled this initiative is specific about how the money is to be distributed, and the Bernalillo County ordinance reflects the law in both the letter and the spirit. Beyond that, the biennial review of projects guarantees periodic checkups, and the arts and cultural community itself is expected to act as an alert and vigorous watchdog to insure that all funds are directed as intended.
Q. Doesn’t this program duplicate 1% for Art programs that are already in place?
A. Both the City and County 1% for Arts are wonderful programs, but their intent is to enhance the built environment with permanent artworks for public facilities. They are tied to voter-approved General Obligation Bonds and some Revenue Bonds and can't be used for anything that's not permanent in nature -- no music, no dance, no children's programs, no free days at the zoo or open nights at the library. They complement the Quality of Life Initiative, but their purpose is entirely different.
|
