Richmond utility bills could rise under Mayor Avula's $1.1B budget
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Mayor Avula presented the largest budget in Richmond's history to City Council this week, calling it a "roadmap to a thriving Richmond."
Why it matters: That roadmap includes utility bills going up by nearly $14 a month, or $166 per year, starting this summer.
The big picture: His $1.1 billion proposed general fund budget makes a record investment into RPS — though it's still short the $261 million the School Board requested — and has over $25 million tied to affordable housing.
- The budget would help fund a "people-centered" plan for Gilpin Court while closing out the city's commitment to Creighton Court's redevelopment.
- Sworn police and fire department staff could get a 6.73% raise. Other union employees would get around 3.25%.
- The fire department could get nearly $4 million for overtime alone.
By the numbers: Every residential utility bill would rise in July, if City Council approves Avula's proposal, to support major utility projects. Here's how that could break down.
- Water: +$1.22/month
- Stormwater: +$3.04
- Gas: +$3.97
- Wastewater: +$5.61
The intrigue: The proposed budget also:
📸 Sets aside nearly $1.3 million for new and/or increases existing department contracts for surveillance tech, license plate readers and more.
⚖️ Suggests moving the Office of Gun Violence Prevention from the mayor's office to the Department of Justice Services as an "evidence-based" shift toward community intervention.
🖼️ Reduces arts and culture funding by over $560,000 and moves dollars previously earmarked for places like the Black History Museum and Art 180 into a general arts grant reserve.
🛍️ Bumps its annual contribution to Carytown from $25,000 to $125,000 to help create a new business district.
🏡 Keeps the city's tax rates unchanged at $3.70 (personal property) and $1.20 (real estate) per $100 of assessed value.
What we're watching: The mayor's budget letter warns the city's revenue picture might not hold as federal pandemic relief expires and federal policy shifts.
- But he left the door open to adjusting the real estate tax rate and separately noted the 1% local sales tax referendum that state lawmakers postponed until next year.
- The sales tax measure would've allowed localities like Richmond to add the tax to help fund school construction if voters approved it.
- The mayor's office didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on whether he supports it.
What's next: There will be a public hearing on the budget during City Council's March 23 meeting at City Hall.
- Council has until May 29 to adopt the budget.
Editor's note: This story was updated after the city corrected budget wording to reflect that the Office of Gun Violence Prevention would be moving out of the Mayor's Office (not RPD). The story was also corrected to reflect that the money set aside for surveillance tech is for new contracts or increases in the cost of existing contracts (not to expand those existing contracts).