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Richmond keeps real estate tax at $1.20 after council rejects $1.16 rollback
Summary
After a contentious public hearing and debate, Richmond City Council voted to set the real-estate tax rate at $1.20 for the 2026 tax year and rejected an ordinance to lower the rate to $1.16. Supporters of the higher rate said cuts would threaten services and commitments; opponents urged relief for taxpayers.
Richmond City Council voted to keep the city's real estate tax rate at $1.20 for the tax year beginning Jan. 1, 2026, rejecting a separate ordinance that would have set the rate at $1.16.
The decision followed a lengthy public hearing and a council debate about revenue, municipal spending obligations and who would benefit from a rate cut. Council members ultimately voted down ordinance 2025-208, which would have established a $1.16 rate, and then adopted ordinance 2025-207 to set the $1.20 rate.
The matter drew dozens of speakers during the public hearing. Several city contractors and union members said a rate cut would undermine wages and services. "Any proposal ... that reduces the city's budget and in turn threatens programs and workers' wages and community ed support is unacceptable, and we strongly oppose these cuts," said Latrice Gregory of SEIU 32BJ. Richmond Fire Department members and their union leadership also urged caution; Adam Belcastro of the International Association of…
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