Richmond City Council / News Release
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Thursday, 15 February 2024
A statement by Richmond City Council regarding
Repairing Richmond’s Tax Collection Process
“On Monday night, Richmond restaurant owners came before Richmond City Council to share their experiences and the impact that recent meals tax collections have made not only on their businesses, but on their lives. Richmond City Council listened deeply and intently to their valid concerns. In direct response to these issues, Richmond City Council established Ordinance #2024-024 which clarifies the application of tax payments. https://richmondva.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6492625&GUID=342ED836-B877-4A22-93F9-9C4E926CBCD5&Options=ID|Text|&Search=tax
Richmond City Council believes that Richmond deserves an effective, efficient, and responsive finance system. Council is committed to identifying and enacting substantive laws and policies that create tangible solutions to make this a reality.
To begin, we need to lower the barriers for honest responsive dialogue and trust between affected businesses and the City of Richmond. To do this, Richmond needs a culture change that establishes, engenders, and supports ongoing real and direct lines of communication to resolve real issues.
In addition, Richmond City Council wishes to rebuild and strengthen trust by resolving past issues in order to set a new course for the future.
Councilmembers in each District are very thankful of businesses and individuals who have come to them during the past number of months to share their justified frustrations, concerns, and for pushing their struggles into the spotlight and offering solutions. We have listened, heard, and taken action. The next step is for the City to clearly and openly define the processes and practices that work seamlessly for all involved.
Council recognizes that the City Administration is taking initial steps to remedy these harms, and this will take time. This includes a concrete list of measures establishing better policies, significantly improving processes, creating new laws, and investing in new systems.
As a legislative body, focusing on policy and budget, Richmond City Council also seeks clear, actionable solutions. We believe a realistic timeline must be set, and continuous two-way public communication is needed for transparency and accountability in completing these efforts.
Richmond City Council wishes to include the following:
·
Create plans for all accounts to
come into compliance, with detailed policies for an appeals process,
forgiveness, refunds, and payment plans.
·
Work directly with affected
communities to create solutions that work for them.
·
Create online visual/text materials
informing businesses on best way to pay taxes.
· Providing ongoing updates to Council and the public.
Richmond City Council invites the City Administration to provide updates and timelines for the above items at its March 4th Organizational Development Standing Committee Meeting.
When problems like these arise, Richmond City Council is here to repair the harm through its oversight role. We look forward to working directly with impacted restaurant owners and the City Administration to find collaborative solutions.”
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Richmond
City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 300 -
Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council (web)