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Richmond City Council advances 2025 appropriation ordinances and adopts 2026 budget
Summary
The Richmond City Council approved multiple 2025 appropriation and transfer ordinances and adopted the 2026 budget after debating personnel and overtime adjustments in the fire/EMS budget. The mayor urged innovation and caution as the city realigns 24 operations funds across 13 departments.
Richmond City Council approved a package of 2025 appropriation and transfer ordinances and adopted the citys 2026 budget during a special meeting focused on fiscal year planning.
The mayor, speaking to the council, said the city faces significant budgetary challenges and urged "innovative solutions," noting the interdependence of 24 operating funds and 13 departments. The administration presented a set of ordinances intended to move unappropriated local option income tax proceeds into the general fund and then appropriate them for specific line items.
Staff presented Ordinance 52 20 25 as a transfer of local option income tax funds into the general fund; Beth Fields, introduced as director of strategic initiatives, said the funds have not been appropriated and will be appropriated under the companion Ordinance 49 20 25. Fields said the city has documentation showing permitted uses for opioid settlement funds and files annual reports on those restricted funds.
Council considered several appropriation ordinances on second reading. Ordinance 52 20 25 (transfer) and its companion appropriation ordinances were advanced and engrossed by motion and subsequent roll-call votes. Ordinance 49 20 25, described as covering street lights and salaries, was reported as favorable by the finance committee and was engrossed and approved by the council. Ordinance 47 20 25, which permits using opioid settlement funds for certain salaries and overtime, was also explained by staff and approved after council votes.
The meeting included votes to engross and adopt Ordinance 38 20 25 and Ordinance 51 20 25 (an appropriation ordinance authorizing reductions in appropriations from certain funds). Council ultimately voted to adopt the 2026 budget under Ordinance 39 20 25 after debate over specific line items in the first-response fund.
Council action on the ordinances proceeded by motion, second, engrossment and roll-call votes; where roll-call votes were recorded they reflected broad support. The meeting concluded with the presiding officer noting further work remains to realign services and with council adjournment.
The meeting record indicates that the city will continue follow-up work over the coming months to implement the budget and that specific appropriations could be revisited as staff and the union complete negotiations.
