Richmond City Council Budget Work Session - April 15, 2026

The Richmond City Council held a budget work session on April 15, 2026, to review proposed text and capital improvement plan (CIP) amendments. No formal decisions were made; further discussion and voting were scheduled for the following Monday, April 20, 2026. The deadline for council members to submit co-patronage requests was extended to Thursday, April 16, at 5 p.m.

Discussion Items

• RPS Audit and Virtual Academy Costs: Council debated a proposed amendment to fund an independent audit of Richmond Public Schools (RPS) at a cost of $175,000. The amendment would require RPS to allocate $175,000 for a third-party audit contracted through the city auditor's office. Additionally, a significant discrepancy emerged regarding the cost of the Richmond Virtual Academy: council staff initially estimated $1.6 million, but RPS later informed them the actual cost is $3.2 million. Council members expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and requested written documentation from RPS justifying the higher figure.
• Severance for Senior Executives: A text amendment seeks to strike new language in the pay plan that would allow up to one year of severance for senior executives at the discretion of the appointing authority. Council members questioned whether this would affect existing employment agreements, and city administration clarified that no current contracts would be compromised.
• Affordable Housing Trust Fund: A text amendment aims to fix language to ensure the affordable housing trust fund receives funding as previously agreed. City administration expressed support and requested clarity on the final language.
• Social Services FTEs: An amendment from Councilwoman Gibson requests five new full-time equivalent positions for the Department of Social Services, costing approximately $460,000. The city noted an 85% state reimbursement rate, reducing the city's share.
• Transportation and Security for After-School Programs: Council discussed a $428,000 request for transportation and security at middle schools for after-school programs, down from an earlier estimate of $700,000. Council members requested documentation of the revised cost and an explanation of RPS's plan B if funding was not provided.
• CIP Amendments: Several capital projects were reviewed, including:
  • Forest Hill Avenue traffic study (originally $500,000, but DPW stated $100,000 is sufficient and they are already working with VDOT).
  • West Over Hills Elementary School external facility redesign (funding cannot come from state/federal grants for public right-of-way; would need separate coordination with RPS).
  • Citywide school safety study recommendations ($500,000 to implement projects at eight schools identified in a prior study; DPW noted that some work may already be covered by existing grants).
  • Eliminating new funding for gas new business ($500,000 not needed in FY27 due to existing balance; funds cannot be repurposed for other uses per utility restrictions).
  • East End early childhood and child care center development (redirecting approximately $1.5 million from a previously allocated teen center fund; city budget director noted that CIP dollars cannot be used for general fund operations, so more detail is needed).
  • Splash pad at Broad Rock Sports Complex (request to restore a feature omitted from original park plans; cost not specified).
  • Lights for TJ High School football field ($250,000 commitment to leverage matching grants; council requested inventory of other schools lacking lighting).
  • Transparent street safety spending (amendment to provide granular breakdown of $32 million in complete streets funds; DPW offered periodic presentations and a dashboard).
  • Funding the People's Budget (participatory budgeting) in FY28 (five-year plan currently does not include the planned $5 million; council and administration discussed aligning processes).
  • Pedestrian crossings on Chamberlain Avenue (councilwoman Gibson proposed $100,000 for safety improvements; transportation director recommended waiting for a BRT study).
  • Bike parking on Brookland Park Boulevard (existing $50,000 line item for parking; transportation department already planning bike parking in that area).
• Commonwealth Attorney's Office Budget: The Commonwealth Attorney raised concerns about a $241,000 reduction in the proposed budget. City administration explained it was a technical adjustment based on personnel calculations, not a cut, and that no positions were eliminated. Council members sought to restore the funding if needed and scheduled a meeting for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; all decisions on amendments were deferred to the council's next meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026.
• Council directed staff to obtain written documentation from RPS regarding the cost of the Virtual Academy ($3.2 million) and the transportation/security costs for after-school programs ($428,000).
• Council requested an inventory of schools lacking athletic field lighting and a list of schools included in the recent safety study (eight schools: McLenry, Patrick Henry, Swansboro Elementary, Thomas Boushall Middle, River City Middle, Richmond High School for the Arts, Lucille Brown Middle, Huguenot High).
• The deadline for council members to co-patron amendments was extended to Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 5 p.m.
• Council staff will continue to identify available funding sources, including the gap grant program, to support amendments.
• The city assessor's request for a customer service representative (funded by a transfer from the council chief of staff office) appeared to have consensus and was expected to pass on Monday.
• Councilwoman Trammell announced that tax relief application forms for the elderly and disabled are now available at city hall, following coordination with the CAO's office.