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Richmond staff and VCU report strong engagement for inaugural People’s Budget; $3 million allocation planned
Summary
Staff reported more than 1,900 idea submissions and described a participatory budgeting process that will let residents 14 and older rank proposed capital projects; VCU researchers presented an interim evaluation finding strong enthusiasm and identified outreach, equity and scope questions for cycle 2.
City staff and Virginia Commonwealth University researchers told the Richmond City Council’s organizational development committee on March 3 that the first cycle of the Richmond People’s Budget has produced heavy public participation, and that officials plan a two‑week ranked ballot in April for residents to select projects.
The People’s Budget is a participatory budgeting pilot proposed to allocate $3 million from fiscal year 2026 capital funds across Richmond’s nine council districts. Lariana Delgado, civic engagement coordinator in the council chief of staff’s office, said the steering commission used an RVA social‑vulnerability map to guide funding allocations and that the process collected roughly 1,900 ideas citywide.
Who can participate and how it works
Delgado said residents, workers and students aged 14 and older who live, work or study in Richmond are eligible to participate,…
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