Richmond Proposes $836 Million Budget for 2023, Investing in Education, Housing, Public Safety, and City Services

Mayor Levar M. Stoney has proposed a $836 million General Fund budget for the City of Richmond for the 2023 fiscal year, which does not raise taxes and expands key investments in education, housing, public safety, public services, and city employees. The budget aims to improve the quality of life for all residents, building on the city's strengths, resilience, and initiative. It reflects the priorities of a city that values high-quality public education, investing in city employees, maintaining quality streets and services, and memorializing the city's full, true history.

Key Takeaways:

The proposed budget includes a first responder step pay plan, which will see 95% of police officers and firefighters receive a 10% pay increase, with 83% receiving a 15% or more increase, and starting pay for police officers increasing from $44,000 to over $51,000 per year.
The budget includes an additional $15 million for Richmond Public Schools, on top of last year's allocation, to fully fund teacher salaries and cover RPS administrative needs, as well as support efforts to improve learning outcomes.
The city expects to allocate $727,000 for the Eviction Diversion Program, an increase of 50%, and provide an additional $1.5 million for Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue and expand the city's after-school programming.
The budget includes $500,000 to establish the first-ever Children's Fund, to be managed by the Office of Children and Families, to enable the city to respond to the changing landscape of out-of-school time, including summer programs and youth employment.
The proposed budget continues to enhance city services, including the restoration of Richmond Public Libraries to pre-pandemic funding, the launch of a Park Ranger Pilot Program, new software for the Department of Planning Development and Review to improve submission, processing, and tracking of applications, and the addition of four new Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement positions.
The city will also establish a $10 million Capital Planning Fund to undertake preliminary architectural, engineering, and design work for future major capital projects, such as a new courthouse, public safety complex, and a new City Hall.
The city plans to engage the community, design the campus, and put the first phase of work out to bid for the development of the Shockoe Heritage Campus for $28 million.

Statistics:

$836 million: The proposed General Fund budget for the City of Richmond for the 2023 fiscal year.
$17.4 million: The amount allocated for the first responder step pay plan, which includes a 10% pay increase for 95% of police officers and firefighters.
$15 million: The additional funding for Richmond Public Schools to fully fund teacher salaries and cover RPS administrative needs.
$727,000: The increased funding for the Eviction Diversion Program, a 50% increase.
$1.5 million: The additional funding for Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities to continue and expand the city's after-school programming.
$500,000: The funding for the establishment of the first-ever Children's Fund, to be managed by the Office of Children and Families.
$10 million: The establishment of a Capital Planning Fund to undertake preliminary architectural, engineering, and design work for future major capital projects.
$28 million: The funding for the development of the Shockoe Heritage Campus.

Sources:

[Source 1] Richmond Department of Veterans Services
[Source 2] City of Richmond General Fund Budget proposal for 2023
[Source 3] Mayor Levar M. Stoney
[Source 4] Richmond Public Schools
[Source 5] Eviction Diversion Program
[Source 6] Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
[Source 7] Office of Children and Families
[Source 8] Department of Planning Development and Review
[Source 9] American Rescue Plan Act
[Source 10] Richmond Commonwealth Attorneys