Richmond council adopts ordinance requiring agency budget requests and side-by-side comparison

Richmond City Council on Monday adopted an ordinance that requires the mayor’s office to publish agency-level budget request documents and a side-by-side comparison with the mayor’s proposed budget.

Councilwoman Stephanie Lynch, the ordinance sponsor, said the change is meant to give council members and the public more “insight, intel, and knowledge” about departmental needs before budget decisions are finalized. “All of us have to defend the budget that we vote on,” Lynch said during the public discussion, adding the proposal would help council make more targeted amendments.

The measure passed with seven votes in favor and two opposed. The roll call recorded Yes votes from Councilmembers Breton, Gibson, Jones, Lynch, Trammell, Abubakar and Vice President Jordan; Councilwoman Ellen Robertson and President Cynthia Newbill voted No.

Supporters said the ordinance mirrors a transparency tool used at the state level and would help the public and council better weigh trade-offs during the budget cycle. Critics, including Robertson, warned the city’s strong-mayor form of government and the administration’s internal review process differ from the state model and said the city may not be ready for the additional responsibilities this change creates.

Acting CAO Odie Donald told council he opposed the measure, saying it would make the administration’s work more difficult, but he acknowledged the ultimate decision rested with the council.

The ordinance is intended to produce earlier, more granular information about departmental requests so council and the public can evaluate priorities and potential amendments before the mayor’s proposed budget is finalized.

Council members said next steps will include operational work between council staff and the administration to implement the new publication requirements.

Votes at a glance: ordinance 2025-100 — Adopted 7–2.