On September 25, Mayor Danny Avula and the Richmond City Council, together with Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, launched a new budget process for the City of Richmond. The kickoff event marked the start of a revised approach to developing the city’s budget, with an emphasis on collaboration and increased public involvement.
City leaders discussed several changes designed to make the budgeting process more transparent and inclusive. These updates are based on recommendations from a joint Budget Task Force formed earlier this year. The task force was created to allow more time for preparing the budget and to give residents more opportunities to participate.
Mayor Avula explained the significance of these changes by stating, “The budget process is about dollars and cents, but it is also about choices. Through the budget, we make choices about where we put our resources and what kind of city we want to build together, as well as how we do that. I am so proud to strengthen public participation in this important process. Richmond, we see you!”
One key recommendation from the task force was early collaboration between city officials and residents. Other recommendations included moving up the timeline for submitting the mayor’s proposed budget, reorganizing work sessions around four main portfolios—Human Services; Finance and Administration; Planning and Economic Development; and Operations—and implementing standardized procedures for making amendments. The plan also calls for more public hearings before both the mayor’s submission of his budget proposal and councilmember amendments. There will be an annual review to assess progress.
Council President Cynthia Newbille highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach: “This is the first time that we have Council, Administration, and Departmental leaders assembled with buy-in and support for a joint, collaborative budget process. Because of the work of the Task Force, there will be more time and more opportunity for community input,” she said. “I am really looking forward to the work ahead and know that we will come out with a much better product.”
The new timeline begins in September with early district priority submissions so community concerns can be included in planning efforts across Richmond. In December, administration officials and councilmembers will hold a facilitated meeting to identify five to seven shared priorities; required public hearings will take place during this stage as well. Additional town halls are scheduled from January through February to gather further feedback from residents.
