City Councilor Stephanie Telles Opens Participatory Budgeting Project Selection for City Council District 1

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — City Councilor Stephanie Telles is proud to announce that District 1 Participatory Budgeting is underway! District 1 is the second City Council district in Albuquerque to launch a Participatory Budgeting (PB) pilot. This innovative initiative empowers Westside residents to directly decide how to invest in their neighborhoods by submitting and voting on "Basic Needs and Quality of Life Projects".

We need your public capital ideas! There’s $1.7 million available for projects that build, expand, or improve public infrastructure and community assets.

If you’re 14 or older and live within Albuquerque city limits, submit your idea or project online by November 4. Proposed projects must be in District 1.

To help constituents understand how they can shape their community, Councilor Telles is providing guidance on exactly what types of projects are eligible for funding.

What Types of Projects Can Be Funded? Eligible submissions must be Public Capital Projects. These are defined as large-scale, long-term investments to build, expand, create, or significantly improve public infrastructure and community assets.

To qualify, a project must:

• Be a long-term, tangible asset (such as buildings, parks, land, or equipment) expected to last 10 or more years.
• Involve the rehabilitation or renovation of existing tangible assets.
• Include necessary planning and construction documents, or equipment.
• Be completely owned by the City of Albuquerque.
• Located in District 1 

Available Funding Buckets

Residents can propose projects across five specific funding categories:

• Streets & Stormwater Management: $1,000,000 available (e.g., signage, storm drain paintings, traffic and speed-calming measures).
• Cultural Initiatives: $425,000 available (e.g., museums, senior centers).
• Parks and Recreation: $280,000 available (e.g., trees, park enhancements).
• Libraries: $60,000 available (e.g., technology updates, furnishings, interior redesigns).
• Public Safety: $1,000 available (e.g., cameras, lighting).

What Cannot Be Funded? It is equally important to note what falls outside the scope of this pilot. PB funds cannot be used for:

• Operational or personnel costs (such as salaries, stipends, utilities, or rent).
• Administrative costs or programming and entertainment.
• Costs associated with the ongoing maintenance, monitoring, management, or control of capital projects.
• Projects outside of District 1.
• Projects intended for private benefit.

"Participatory budgeting is about putting the power directly into the hands of our Westside neighbors," said Councilor Stephanie Telles. "I encourage everyone in District 1 to think about the long-term, tangible improvements they want to see in our streets, parks, and libraries, and to bring those ideas forward."