Richmond
City Council
/ News Release
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Friday, 28 March 2025
Richmond City Council Statement regarding
Establishing the Fiscal Year 2026 Richmond Government Budget
(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. 3.28.2025) – “Richmond City Council thanks Mayor Avula for submitting to Council a proposed draft Fiscal Year 2026 Richmond Government Budget. The annual Richmond budget is a critical document that guides our city’s financial and policy decisions, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to meet the needs of residents and create a resilient Richmond community.
Establishing the annual Richmond Government Budget is Richmond City Council’s most fundamental role and responsibility as the governing legislative institution of Richmond, Virginia and serves as the foundation of its policymaking and stewardship of our community’s government operations on behalf of all Richmond residents.
The budget is shaped by the unique geographic and historical challenges of Richmond and this year it is being prepared against the backdrop of increasing costs and an unpredictable federal environment.
In the coming weeks, Richmond City Council will carefully examine all aspects of the budget, working to ensure fiscal responsibility, transparency, and alignment with the needs of Richmond residents. Council will be staying true to the priorities being heard from community voices and be producing a budget that will achieve those goals.
This budget is not just a financial document, but a vital expression of the values and goals that guide our community resources and service delivery.
Council is thoroughly committed to an engaged and collaborative process that will lead to the establishment of a balanced and effective budget that supports the growth, safety, and well-being of all Richmond residents.
Richmond City Council looks forward to engaging with the Mayor, city staff, and Richmond residents in this process. Council will work together to craft and establish budget that supports our shared vision for a prosperous, equitable, and thriving city.
Council is committed to and excited about investing in the City’s workforce through collective bargaining, health equity, affordable housing, the Richmond People’s Budget, strong futures for children, adults, and families, safe and clean neighborhoods, economic growth, and strategic infrastructure investments.
Richmond City Council is also steadfast in its legal responsibility on behalf of residents to balance the city budget, meaning that every dollar spent must be accounted for with corresponding revenue.”
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The Richmond City Council Fiscal
Year 2026 Richmond Government Budget Establishment Meeting Schedule encourages public access, information, engagement, and
transparency. Council’s schedule is as follows:
Richmond City Council
Fiscal Year 2026 Richmond
Government Budget Establishment Meetings Schedule
This is a working draft subject to
updates. Meetings, unless otherwise noted, to be held in Richmond City Council
Chambers; Richmond City Hall; 2nd Floor; 900 E. Broad Street;
Richmond, Virginia 23219; updated 3.24.2025/srs
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MARCH
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Thurs., March 27, 2025: 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session #1
- Mayor to submit a proposed FY 2026 Richmond
Government Budget
- FY26 Richmond City Council Richmond
Government Budget Establishment Meeting Schedule
presented by Richmond City Council Office of Council Chief of Staff
per Richmond City Charter; Chapter 6.; § 6.02. and Richmond Code of Laws/Ordinances;
Chapter 12; Article 1.
Section 12-11
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APRIL
|
Mon., April 7, 2025; 1 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session #2: Overview of
Operating Budget
Mon., April 14, 2025; 1:00-3:30 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session #3: FY26 Richmond
Capital Improvement Plan overview
Mon., April 14, 2025; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Public Hearing on Mayor’s Proposed FY 2026
Budget (During
Richmond City Council Formal Meeting)
o Richmond residents are invited and encouraged
to participate in person or virtually via Microsoft Teams. Interested persons
may pre-register by calling the RCC Office of City Clerk, at 804.646.7955 (press option 3 when prompted), by
Noon, on Monday, April 14, 2025
Wed., April 16, 2025; 10:00 a.m.-Noon
Council Budget Work Session #4: Council
Amendment considerations
Mon.,
April 21, 2025: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Council Budget Work Session #5: Council
Amendment Consensus
(DUE DATE/5:00 p.m. for Final Proposed
Council Budget Amendments)
o Discussion and
finalization for Council Final Proposed Budget Amendments (balanced)
for proposed FY 2026 Richmond Government
Budget
o DUE DATE/5:00 p.m. for Final Council Proposed Budget Amendments to provide
RCC Office
of Council Chief of Staff for time for clarifying, preparing, writing, verifying,
and submitting Proposed Budget Amendments to Richmond Office of City Attorney
for legal review, preparation, approval - as to form and legality, and Council
introduction of legislation.
Mon., April 28, 2025; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Introduction of Council Proposed Budget Amendments
(Held during Richmond
City Council Formal Meeting)
o Council Introduction
of Proposed Amendments (balanced) for proposed FY 2026
Richmond Government Budget
DEADLINES: Per state and local laws, Council Proposed Richmond Government Budget Amendment legislation is required to be introduced prior to adoption and be advertised per state/local laws, seven days before adoption, and Schools Richmond Public Schools Budget required to be adopted prior to May 15. Per public transparency, inclusion, and equity, all such Council actions are recommended to be done during Council Regular (Formal) meeting.
|
MAY
|
Mon., May 12, 2025; 6:00-8:00 p.m. (During
Council Formal Meeting)
Establishment
of Richmond Government Budget,
includes: Council amendments; Richmond General Fund (Operating Budget), Special
Funds, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Federal, and State Funds,
Richmond Capital Improvement Plan, and funds provided for Richmond Public
Schools.
DEADLINE: Thurs., May 15, 2025
Council must adopt Schools budget by May 15,
or within 30 days of Receipt of state school funding estimates to localities
(whichever is later), per Virginia Code of Laws: Title 22.1. Education; Chapter
8. Article 1; §22. 1-93.
DEADLINE: Sat., May 31, 2025
Council must adopt/establish Richmond
Government Budget by May 31 each year, per Richmond City Charter: Chapter 6;
§6.11
Tues., July 1, 2025
Fiscal Year 2025 Richmond Government Budget begins; runs July 1- June 30 annually.
NOTE: The Council Budget schedule is a working draft and subject to updates and budget topics, question, and discussions may also be included in other public Richmond City Council Meetings, as needed. Please check Richmond City Council meeting dates, at https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Richmond
residents can follow the budget process as it advances and watch past and
future work sessions via Council meeting schedule.
OVERVIEW - Richmond Government Budget
Establishing the annual Richmond Government Budget is Richmond
City Council’s most fundamental role and responsibility as the governing
legislative institution of Richmond, Virginia and serves as the foundation and
ultimate act of its policymaking and stewardship of our
community’s government operations on behalf of all Richmond residents.
As Richmond residents, we pool our resources to operate our local government and decide what public services we want to invest in; the priority (investment levels) for these services; and, how we pay for them.
Examples of some of the services we invest in include the management and delivery of such things as clean, safe water; streets, sidewalks, parks, laws, and law enforcement, firefighting, emergency services/rescue; trash and sewage removal; and, our children’s education. Together, we own, operate, use, and benefit from these services on a daily basis. Funding for these services comes from state, local and federal sources, including fees and taxes.
In order to set the investment
levels we want for these services, Richmond City Council establishes an
official annual Richmond Government Budget in May of each year for the upcoming
Fiscal Year.
The Richmond Government Budget is based on a Fiscal Year that runs July 1 to June 30 annually and includes the Richmond General Fund, Richmond Capital Improvement Plan, Richmond Special Funds, Richmond Enterprise Funds, Richmond Internal Service Funds, the City Government contribution to Richmond Public Schools, and additional state, federal, and other funds provided to Richmond Public Schools.
The Richmond Government Budget is established annually and every year a draft proposed budget is submitted to Richmond City Council by the Mayor. Council then reviews, analyzes, and amends it to establish the Official Richmond Government Budget based on the needs and priorities of Richmond residents.
Per Richmond City Charter Chapter 6: Section 6.03, and per the Richmond Code of Laws (Ordinances); Chapter 12; Article 1; Section 12-11, the Mayor must submit a proposed upcoming fiscal year Richmond Government Budget to Richmond City Council on March 27 at 3:00 p.m. each year.
Richmond Residents
Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to attend meetings and to share their thoughts, comments, and ideas directly with the individual Councilmember for their district.
CONTACT YOUR COUNCILMEMBER
Richmond
residents are invited and encouraged to share their thoughts regarding the many compelling and competing city budgetary needs directly with the individual Councilmember representing them. (https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council/council-contacts)
FIND YOUR DISTRICT
The following helpful link can be used by residents, if needed, to further
assist in identifying their individual Richmond Voter District:
Richmond
Real Estate Property Search Database https://apps.richmondgov.com/applications/propertysearch/Search.aspx
(note: Click for “Search by Property Address” - Once
you’ve entered your address, use the Govt. tab to identify your Voter
Districts)
Council Formal Meeting - Live TV
Richmond City Council Formal Meetings (typically held 2nd/4th Monday of month, beginning 6:00 p.m.) air live on TV: Free/Over-the-Air channel 57.1 on VPM Plus/WCVW night of meetings; Via cable: Verizon Fios 524/24; Comcast 797/24; Direct TV 57; Dish 9392/57
Council Formal
Meeting - TV Replay
Recent Council Formal Meetings are typically replayed twice daily on Richmond
Government Access TV Cable Channel 17 in Richmond; beginning at Noon and 7:00
p.m.
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Council Formal, Informal, Standing, Budget, Special
Meetings (Agendas, Etc.)
Typically held in Richmond City Council Chambers; Richmond City Hall, 2nd
floor; 900 E. Broad Street; Richmond, VA 23219 (Schedule on back)| https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
_______________________________________________________________________________
Council meetings: Live/Audio/Video Streaming | richmondva.legistar.com
Go to meeting agendas for live links of individual meetings
Council Meeting Audio/Video Streaming Replay | https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
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Council Legislation, Laws/Ordinances, Resolutions, Richmond City Charter, etc.| https://richmondva.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
_______________________________________________________________________________
Council Webpage | https://www.rva.gov/richmond-city-council
Council Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/RichmondCityCouncilVirginiaUSA
Council News Releases | https://richmondvacitycouncil.blogspot.com/
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Richmond City Council overview
Richmond City Council is the official governing legislative institution of Richmond, Virginia and represents residents in creating and amending local laws/ordinances, providing government policy and oversight, and establishing an annual Richmond Government Budget.
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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)
