[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6595771,"mediaKeyId","3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263","parentId",3025704,"title","Committee forwards board reappointments and participatory‑budget appointment to council","audioSeconds",99,"startMs",6598000,"endMs",6697000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263&start=6598&end=6697","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263/thumbnail_6598000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595771/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-board-reappointments-and-participatorybudget-appointment-to-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595771-4122797dc448fdc1dab6fe726c014b22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094101&Signature=o01zU76vWpozsmjJPFuFSyxqVYLDAgujaIXuGTart68IIzzEzG6Yf0~vVjE23Ka~mIZrwXfzU5uZLZXLXtmulqOTXgcXIYgOFvKUzPBeRLLJyfjMjJZPIRnUC8CYB9wblk8ZJ~nDbTOwGqGvbXlKGzVxTOje70fmxOdV9NCTKBmFI7XqpOW1zie0T-UBaZCc7ClfbOmJDf~W8W85alG9ke2bGJvWvyCHQl4wuebOHIsD3RmdFIdASbRGHzcMpQvKZbaGN5DhiSpFp2AfK1U-NpbYjrGzN98LCCe8mmUUOl8kQd1cfSYZuBSba6KsMpq7H5gLLbf8KGh-s8nx9SBYKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Richmond City","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on April 21 voted to forward board recommendations to City Council for approval, sending names for two Minority Business Enterprise and Emerging Small Business Advisory Board seats and one Participatory Budgeting Steering Commission seat.

Pamela Nichols, council management analyst, briefed the committee on vacancy packets. The committee considered a reappointment application from Adrienne Whitaker as a representative of a lender or business other than a minority-owned enterprise and an application from Shamika Bowen as a representative of a minority business enterprise. For the Participatory Budgeting steering commission, Tiffany Gunn was recommended as a resident who lives in a council district south of the James River; Nichols noted her application did not list other qualifications beyond residency.

A motion to recommend the appointments to City Council carried on committee roll call. The committee recorded Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. The matter will proceed to full City Council for final confirmation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Richmond City - Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on 2025-04-16 2:00 PM - To access the meeting via Microsoft Teams, please use the following link: https://tinyurl.com/FIN-APRIL16 or dial *67-804-316-9457 and enter ID: 826 029 289#. - Apr 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recommended that City Council approve two Minority Business Enterprise board candidates and one Participatory Budgeting steering commission nominee; the motion was approved by roll call.","taxTitle","Richmond City (Independent City), Virginia","taxId",5755,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6595777,"Human Resources presents collective bargaining cost projections to committee",369,5686000,6055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263&start=5686&end=6055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263/thumbnail_5686000.jpg","/articles/6595777/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Human-Resources-presents-collective-bargaining-cost-projections-to-committee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595777-52fb7da4e5ce4b43c57305ca16efb68a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094101&Signature=ojKa935Kd3mXR8L8sE-LqOzXv8Te7H8TDp-wPw7~tp~5vQ~lAXuIJPOy7425kDNcyIGJNyrgx-V3uBTWzm~ACOFWjNJuNObj~dAAJRqwQlCixNtjOy1wOqYwLoTgI0zpY7XUe2N4ec101KLbR5uPfJ6OUyhjF84uZ7BwGVGZCUh7fQGKlmlAJR1myI5LwhVJlVhfs7RVH-B~3~N2aSTaOuCbcJHz7k~v1e1Mg41bmTNxMzKjqIMCVnW3vxRrLvFAue2bcFrg0VApmEXl3XxQBnNyhRPbZZNDtK~ijuBhtVtH2sV1J0dVWXKecionGM3lyOrvFC~b5oHF7IDbv6Zs7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tyrone Alexander, the director of human resources, presented an overview of Richmond’s collective bargaining landscape and projected costs to the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on April 21, describing negotiated wage formulas, affected employee counts and nonwage implementation costs.

Alexander said the city adopted collective bargaining in October 2022 and implemented three agreements in July 2024 covering administrative and technical employees, fire and emergency services, and police. He said two additional agreements (labor and trades, and a professional union) were expected to come before council in May for ratification.

Alexander provided an account of bargaining-unit sizes and scope: roughly 75.5 percent of city employees (approximately 2,975 employees) are included in bargaining units across 23 departments, with specific counts for the major units described in the presentation. He outlined negotiated wage increases and market-adjustment pools: many units have a 3.25 percent increase programmed for fiscal years 2025, 2026 and 2027, with additional market adjustment pools in FY26–27 for certain units. For police and fire, Alexander said wages are set as a multiplier of the prior year’s average salary among nearby localities (Hanover, Chesterfield and Henrico), with multipliers of about 1.103 for FY26 and incremental increases in FY27.

On projected costs, Alexander presented multi‑year totals that included wage costs, support staff and other operating costs. He summarized a combined projection for collective bargaining-related personnel costs during the covered period totaling roughly $349,770,000 (this figure aggregated multiple bargaining units and funding sources, and included assumptions about ratification and full implementation). The presentation also listed recurring nonwage costs such as professional fees (arbitrators, attorneys) and operating costs for contract administration, safety gear, and other implementation items.

Councilmembers asked about the mayor’s statutory report requirement on collective bargaining and whether staff could meet a July 25, 2025 deadline. Alexander said staff were finalizing bargaining agreements and gathering data and expected to meet the reporting requirement by the date cited.

Councilmember Katrina Gibson asked whether the city could quantify savings from reduced turnover, vacancy reductions and lower overtime resulting from bargaining; Alexander said the city could prepare that analysis by referral to track changes in vacancy, turnover and overtime over time and estimate net effects.

Alexander and councilmembers agreed to follow up with more detailed fiscal breakdowns and to include enterprise funds and other funding sources in the schedule of impacts. No committee vote on policy changes occurred during the presentation; the item was informational and will inform upcoming budget and bargaining work.","City Human Resources briefed the Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on collective bargaining units, negotiated wage multipliers and projected personnel costs over the next three years; staff said a mayoral report on collective bargaining will be prepared by July 25, 2025.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6595782,"Committee forwards proposed $1.16 tax rate and discusses assessment-cycle realignment",355,2800000,3155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263&start=2800&end=3155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263/thumbnail_2800000.jpg","/articles/6595782/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Committee-forwards-proposed-116-tax-rate-and-discusses-assessment-cycle-realignment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595782-56454c462353ccf1bfdade287c15f215/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094101&Signature=Ne4pePWpU28kDiCeHZHWIqHs4VfexfnoaY5oL~nnZ6GJKjbjzLvCiucviEFHH0TnwlpsZAHC84mK8Q3ZEiH2yaNw9G2cDqKQMpST8UX~NzEzGJGu3vGE0Z5mfJmNkQ3sDZc79hsMiEt2eM~A6WcnW-pMP22sv-FpY1Pgyr9X3b03c4qFg8qdGr9DFzSVvcQ5sxR6KON2myvTjgy3z7SC4F0P1RA-e8jebDQKSmLxOVkhy4wqUHSbkR0rkGC2zEjPlCvnE12CdL~h7NdLDe7CNHeNGR69PTjJjVeVT3t63AgcJU5gPCUMspsDwSim5lCZA7qC4HPUDrMrugWHmMOWsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on April 21 voted to forward an ordinance that would set Richmond’s real estate tax rate at $1.16 for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2026 to full City Council with no committee recommendation, after an extended discussion about realigning the property assessment cycle and requests for impact and legal analyses.

Councilmember Scott Trammell introduced the ordinance and urged support for a 4‑cent rate adjustment to help homeowners. Trammell said many residents “are hurting” and described rising costs for utilities and groceries while new development is appearing in some districts.

Committee members asked administration for further analysis before a final vote. Councilmember Sabrina Joy Hogg, senior deputy chief administrative officer for finance and administration, asked the assessor’s office and finance staff to prepare a fiscal impact and legal analysis for the council meeting on April 28 and to provide more detailed projections for use by the full council.

The extensive staff presentation focused on a planned realignment of Richmond’s property assessment cycle from a calendar year basis to a fiscal year basis so that assessments would better inform the budget process. Richard McKeithen, city assessor, and Hogg described a matriculation process in which the same “land book” (the official property valuation roll) will be used for two fiscal years during the transition, with the next reassessment work shifting to begin in July and subsequent assessment notices timed to align with the budget calendar. The administration said assessment notices will be sent on Sept. 1 of this year and that the land book established then will be effective Jan. 1 and used through the transition period.

Administration officials said aligning assessment work ahead of budget development should give the city a more precise revenue projection during budget drafting and avoid debating tax rates several months into a fiscal year. Hogg said the change would reduce the situation in which “you are debating a tax rate five months after a fiscal year has already begun.”

City staff estimated a citywide projected increase in taxable real property values of roughly 6 percent for the notices planned for Sept. 1, 2025; staff emphasized that projection could change and that actual reassessment results will be clearer as the assessor completes more of the work. McKeithen described the transition as a matriculation that would shift the effective date of reassessments from Jan. 1 to July 1 over the conversion period and said that billing will continue twice per year during the transition.

The committee discussed communication and mitigation plans. Hogg said the administration plans a targeted communications campaign to explain the changes to mortgage companies, title and escrow companies, realtors, community organizations and residents. She said the city will seek a communications firm and expects a campaign lasting “at least a year and a half” and estimated related costs “close to $200,000.”

Several councilmembers raised concerns about the immediate financial impact on homeowners and small landlords and urged administration to present impact scenarios and options for assistance programs. Members asked for incremental reporting from the assessor’s office as reassessment work proceeds so council and residents can know whether values are trending up or down during the transition.

Vote and next steps
The committee voted to forward Ordinance 20250‑68 (amending city code to establish a tax rate of $1.16 for the tax year beginning 01/01/2026) to full City Council with no recommendation. The committee roll call recorded: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. The motion carried.

Administration committed to provide the requested fiscal and legal analyses before the April 28 council meeting and to develop the public communications scope of work and timeline for the transition.","Councilmember proposal to set the real estate tax rate at $1.16 for tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2026 was forwarded to full council with no recommendation amid extended presentations on changing the city’s property assessment cycle and concerns about impacts on homeowners.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6595785,"Richmond committee forwards five peer recovery specialist grants to council",880,1885000,2765000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263&start=1885&end=2765","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3025704-84135c5b0da39e319c53fc3280fad263/thumbnail_1885000.jpg","/articles/6595785/Richmond-City-Independent-City/Virginia/Richmond-committee-forwards-five-peer-recovery-specialist-grants-to-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595785-f7c8c476b81e0d66dc2f76b9e769e60f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094101&Signature=BL6YvKVD1xaaLeG257vifA-YC-NVS9NCvpLEZ4mB5iiiQZscyr~JPmz8uQUVUdByeQnbTQffg2dNLChg3mmWn-aMYjsXqntm6WBmziWJ5MKJvYuKpQGUC25kVc1O2mntZtKZ2NatS3mJfUYtBaML88EYvP45BymmWWFx5Mb1Dy948beEEStYBBrxJ-v8t3Ta4MQAO2wF1HGenAey3k9ERiBwjGOlMe2gV9gn2KBq6GXQ45nEnu~lNOL5bFPTTTI3CSYM0x7tSBAs9cyZ4zDs7S2djsZdm6g5ZMxJu1UHrzRxB8AQG9RFGZ8K5W-rRVWj2Le7Op9vvy6yQmcealS23g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on April 21 voted to forward five ordinances to City Council that would authorize grant agreements using opioid settlement funds to expand peer recovery specialist services in Richmond.

The measures fund a $198,000 Caritas training program and four additional nonprofit subgrants through separate ordinances with the McShen Foundation, Saint Luke Legacy Center, Atlantic Outreach Group Inc., and Opportunity Alliance and Reentry. Mike Futula, the city’s opioid response coordinator, told the committee that the awards are part of a larger strategy supported by National Opioid Settlement Funds and a $250,000 award from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority to create and expand peer recovery roles across emergency response, detox, treatment and recovery settings.

Futula said peer recovery specialists are an evidence-based, nonclinical support role. “Peer recovery specialists provide substance use disorder and mental health nonclinical person-centered, strengths-based, wellness-focused services, to support clients in entering sustainable recovery,” he told the committee. Futula added that implementing peers is an allowable use of opioid settlement funds and that “there is no fiscal impact to the city” from the grants themselves because the awards are paid from the settlement distribution.

During the public hearing on the Caritas training grant, Benjamin Carr, a person in long-term recovery and director of recovery services for Caritas, spoke in support. “There is no greater connection than peer-to-peer services,” Carr said, adding the program will train an initial cohort and expand community engagement to place “boots on the ground” for outreach and service linkage.

Committee members praised the life‑saving potential of peer services; one member noted projected cost savings from prevention and treatment, citing Futula’s summary that “for every $1 spent in prevention and treatment services, you can expect to see a $4 cost savings in health care costs and a $7 savings in criminal justice costs.”

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 20250‑56 (Caritas grant, peer recovery specialist training, $198,000): forwarded to council with recommendation to approve. Recorded votes during the committee roll call: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. Motion approved.
- Ordinance 20250‑64 (McShen Foundation grant, peer recovery services): forwarded to council with recommendation to approve (block vote). Recorded votes: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. Motion approved.
- Ordinance 20250‑65 (Saint Luke Legacy Center grant, peer recovery services): forwarded to council with recommendation to approve (block vote). Recorded votes: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. Motion approved.
- Ordinance 20250‑66 (Atlantic Outreach Group, Inc. grant, peer recovery services): forwarded to council with recommendation to approve (block vote). Recorded votes: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. Motion approved.
- Ordinance 20250‑67 (Opportunity Alliance and Reentry grant, peer recovery services): forwarded to council with recommendation to approve (block vote). Recorded votes: Vice Chair Jones — Aye; Chair Robinson — Aye. Motion approved.

The administration said subgrantees were selected through a competitive application process and that the grants are intended to build a broader peer recovery specialist network in Richmond with the stated goals of decreasing fatal overdoses, improving outcomes for people with opioid use disorder and providing recovery hope and connection to services. Futula said the city’s opioid response team includes a clinician and peer recovery specialist positions and that the initiatives align with the Richmond Opioid Task Force.

The committee did not record objections during the public hearings. Committee members asked administration to continue coordinating with existing providers to ensure linkages among service providers and to keep council informed of outreach and network integration as programs are implemented.

The measures will now go to full City Council for final consideration.","The Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee voted to forward five ordinances authorizing opioid-settlement-funded grants to local nonprofits to fund peer recovery specialist programs, recommending approval to full council after public comment and staff presentations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee forwards board reappointments and participatory‑budget appointment to council

Human Resources presents collective bargaining cost projections to committee

Committee forwards proposed $1.16 tax rate and discusses assessment-cycle realignment

Richmond committee forwards five peer recovery specialist grants to council