Richmond council debates cuts, salary raises and vacant positions as budget talks continue

City Council members continued a budget work session focused on personnel costs and operating reductions, advancing questions about a proposed 3.25% salary increase for certain non‑union staff and an administration proposal to reduce $1,068,971 from the operating budget, including the Richmond Resilience Initiative.

The discussion matters because personnel costs make up a large share of the city budget; council members said they want clearer data on salary changes, vacant positions that could be cut, and whether some contractor positions (janitorial and security) should be brought in‑house to control costs and improve wages.

Administration budget staff described a package of proposed operating reductions totaling $1,068,971 that would be available to help fund council amendments. "We have come up with a little less than $1,100,000. It's $1,068,971," said Ms. Brown, the budget director. The administration said the reductions are a mix of a program reduction and vacant positions: a recommendation to reduce funding for the Richmond Resilience Initiative (a guaranteed‑income program originally funded through ARPA), four currently vacant positions in the Office of Community Wealth Building, one position in the Department of Public Works and two long‑vacant positions in the General Registrar's Office.

Several council members pushed back on…