Quality Of Life Initiative Key Dates / Timeline

 Dates to Remember:

8/3/06: Campaign Committee Meeting at 4:30 pm

8/8/06: Last day to submit comments of support for the Quality of Life Initiative to the County Commission Quality of Life Initiative goes before County Commission to place the Initiative on the November ballot

8/9/06: Bernalillo County Commission votes to place QOLI on the ballot, 4:30 pm at Bernalillo County Commission Chambers, Downtown ABQ

9/7/06: Campaign Committee Meeting at 4:30 pm

10/5/06: Campaign Committee Meeting at 4:30 pm

10/10/06:
- Last day to register to vote - registration must be in by 5 pm
- Absentee Voting begins (request your ballot from the County Clerk’s Office!)
- Early Voting begins at locations across Bernalillo County (call the County Clerk’s office for locations and hours)   

11/1/06: Last day to send in applications for an absentee ballot with guarantee that ballot will be received in time for the election

11/3/06:
- Last day to hand in absentee ballot applications at clerk’s office
- Last day clerk can send out absentee ballots
  (applications should be mailed no later than 2 days prior)

11/4/06: Last day to vote early (in person) or absentee (mail in ballot no later than this day)

11/6/06: Last day to cast a replacement absentee ballot (if ballot was not received in time)

11/7/06: Election Day
– Vote in person at registered polling site
- Filled out absentee ballots can be turned in at the county clerk’s office until 7 PM
- Those who have not received absentee ballots applied for and did not cast a replacement absentee ballot can vote at their polling site by casting an emergency paper ballot

 Historical Timeline:

1979 – Group of volunteers begin meeting to discuss mutual concerns.

1981 – Group formalized as the Albuquerque Arts Alliance.

1983 – Arts Alliance incorporated.

1990 – First paid staff hired.

1991 – Arts Alliance receives contract from Albuquerque to develop a Cultural Plan.

1995 – Cultural plan adopted; Arts Alliance receives contract to implement it. One of its six goals is to “seek sustainable funding.”
 

2001 – Cultural plan revised and simplified; one of three goals is to “seek sustainable funding.”

2001 – Arts Alliance board votes to make the search for sustainable funding a priority. Representatives from some 60-plus organizations join forces to research and plan an approach for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. An increase in the gross receipts tax quickly becomes the most viable. It would require enabling “local option” legislation to be passed by the New Mexico State Legislature and signed by the governor, and then it would have to be voted on by the residents of Bernalillo County.

2002 – The updated Cultural Plan is adopted by the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County as part of the city-county Comprehensive Plan, providing greater breadth and depth to the sustainable funding project. Two public meetings are held, legislation is drafted and Representative Danice Picraux agrees to sponsor.

2004 – Proposed legislation does not get over last hurdle in the 30 day session. Fine-tuning and meetings continue.

2005 – Legislation passed 1 hour and 15 minutes before the legislative session adjourned. In the fall, Pamela and Victor Chavez agree to head up Campaign Committee.

2006 – Steps are taken to get Quality of Life Initiative on the Bernalillo County Ballot.

Nov. 7, 2006 -- Voters approve the Quality of Life Initiative, authorizing a 1/4 of 1% gross receipts tax to be used for the arts and culture in Bernalillo County and Albuquerque.

1st Q 2007 – Series of workshops and seminars begins to help position eligible and near-eligible organizations for success.

1st Q 2007 -- Cultural Advisory Board, made up of knowledgeable individuals, is appointed by the County Commission.

2nd Q 2007 -- Cultural Advisory Board puts in place policies and procedures.

7/1/2007 -- The tax goes into effect.

3rd Q 2007 -- First "requests for proposal" are issued by the Cultural Advisory Board.

3rd Q 2007 -- First monies are received by County and allocated to the Quality of Life program.

4th Q 2007 -- First proposals from eligible organizations reviewed by public panels and recommendations made by Cultural Advisory Board.

1st Q 2008 -- First proposals funded.