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Richmond council adopts balanced $324.7 million budget and five-year capital plan
Summary
The Richmond City Council on June 23 adopted a balanced FY2026-27 operating budget and a five-year capital improvement plan, preserving limited-term revenues while directing staff to continue pursuing grants and deliver a slate of park, library and housing projects. The vote passed unanimously with one member absent.
The Richmond City Council adopted a $324.7 million operating budget and a five-year capital improvement plan on June 23, approving staff's recommendation to preserve limited-term revenue and move forward with major projects including the Richmond Main Library renovation and several park upgrades.
City Manager Shasa Curl and Finance Director Emily Combmes presented the package, which staff said maintains a structurally balanced general fund without layoffs and preserves approximately $48.5 million in limited-term revenue. Curl highlighted recent grant wins and the city's active pipeline of applications, noting $328 million in total new grant awards and roughly $86.5 million in submissions for major infrastructure and community projects.
The budget includes a $34.9 million modernization of the Richmond Main Library (with seismic and life-safety upgrades and new community-resilience features), subsidy and gap funding for housing projects (including HomeKey conversion and Nesstrom preservation), and parks work such as Borman Park and Shields-Reed. Staff said grants and targeted reallocations were used to close CIP shortfalls and that council-directed adjustments since the May draft were net zero for revenue and expenditure totals.
During deliberations council members and staff discussed procurement and contracting processes for nonprofits that deliver services to people experiencing homelessness. Several public speakers, including leaders and clients from SOS Richmond, urged a dedicated and predictable funding stream for the organization; staff said the budget preserves funding for unhoused work and that an RFP for unhoused services will be issued this summer.
Councilors pressed staff on vacancy and position-control detail; Curl said the city added 142 positions since FY2021 and hired a net increase of 99 full-time equivalents, and that personnel costs now make up about 70% of general fund spending. Finance staff described the city's approach to closing capital funding gaps through deferred vehicle purchases, scope adjustments and grant seeking.
The motion to adopt the operating budget and five-year CIP passed on roll call with Council Members Bana, Jimenez, Wilson, Vice Mayor Robinson, Council Member Zapeda and Mayor Martinez voting yes; Council Member Brown was absent.
