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Richmond council adopts ordinance requiring publication of agency budget requests alongside mayor's proposal
Summary
The City Council voted 7-2 to approve ordinance 2025-100 requiring the mayor's proposed budget be published with a side-by-side comparison of agency-level budget requests and requires submission of agency request documents to the council and public.
Richmond City Council on Monday adopted ordinance 2025-100 requiring the mayor's proposed budget to be published with a side-by-side comparison of agency-level budget requests and to make those agency-level request documents publicly available.
Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch, the ordinance's patron, said the measure is meant to give council members and the public a clearer picture of departmental needs —and to —level the playing field— when council considers budget amendments.
"All we're asking in this paper is to level the playing field so that we have an understanding of the true need of our departments," Lynch said during the discussion. Lynch and supporters said the change will let council and residents see requests that departments send to the administration before the mayor's recommended budget is finalized.
Opponents on the council raised practical concerns. Councilwoman Ellen Robertson said a task force that included council and administrative staff had examined the budget process and recommended retaining the administration's internal workpaper process because departments and executive staff use those workpapers to develop a unified mayoral proposal. Robertson said requiring publication now would change the council's responsibilities and create additional follow-up duties for members.
Odie Donnell, the city's chief administrative officer, told council members he opposed the measure in principle and asked that council weigh its implications for administrative operations. "I would be on record to let you know that I do believe that both the piece for 01/20 and this paper I would oppose," Donnell said.
Council members said the ordinance follows earlier efforts to improve transparency and that it complements other changes made this year to the budget process, including earlier outreach and a budget work group.
The final roll call on ordinance 2025-100 was: Mister Breton — Aye; Miss Gibson — Yes; Miss Jones — Aye; Miss Robertson — No; Miss Lynch — Aye; Miss Trammell — Aye; Miss Abu Bakr — Aye; Vice President Jordan — Aye; President Newbill — No. The paper was adopted.
