CAO says Richmond must establish single ‘source of truth’ on city finances
Over his first 100 days at City Hall, Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II says he’s seen a fragmented system for tracking government financial data.
Improving the city’s finance systems, Donald said in a new report unveiled this week, will be a top priority for him as Mayor Danny Avula’s administration looks ahead to 2026.
The financial reports the city produces using multiple tools and systems, Donald wrote in his report, often include conflicting numbers and have to be double-checked for accuracy. In turn, that delays the city’s ability to produce reliable information for the City Council, auditors and the public.
“Given these factors, there is a clear need to establish a single, authoritative source of truth for financial reporting that all departments use consistently,” Donald wrote.
The need for improvement in finance was one of many observations Donald shared as he settles into his role as City Hall’s top unelected administrator responsible for day-to-day government functions.
Donald previously ran several local governments in Georgia, and was working as chief of staff to Atlanta’s mayor when Avula hired him to come to Richmond this summer.
In a speech Tuesday night at Main Street Station, Donald said he felt his initial 100 days in city government was an important time to get a sense of what’s working and what’s not.
“It’s the timeframe in which you get to identify everything that ain’t your fault, but is surely your problem,” Donald said, drawing laughter from a crowd of city officials, business leaders and residents who gathered to hear his first impressions of City Hall.
Donald’s report called for an overhaul of the city’s Chart of Accounts, a list used to track money in the government’s various funds and departments. The CAO indicated a “full investigation” is needed, possibly involving outside expertise from third-party consultants.
The report also says the city needs to improve on spending policies, tighten contract and procurement monitoring and compliance and adopt more integrated and modern technology.
Donald acknowledges some modernization efforts haven’t gone smoothly. He pointed specifically to RVA Pay, a new online payment portal the city rolled out in 2024 that has come with a frustratingly glitchy experience for many Richmonders trying to use it.
“RVA Pay is an extraordinary innovative system for us to be able to deliver services,” Donald said. “But man that thing ain’t working like we want it to.”
Donald’s report also indicated the city will analyze service requests residents are submitting through the RVA311 system to get a better understanding of “systemic issues or inefficiencies.”
The CAO laid out several other possible changes at City Hall, such as the possible creation of a chief transparency officer position, a citizen university to help residents better understand how government works and exploring ways the city could use artificial intelligence to potentially reduce costs and become more efficient.
Though he promised improvement At City Hall, Donald said residents shouldn’t expect flawlessness.
“We’re not going to be perfect,” he said. “But we’re going to be dependable. We’re going to be resilient. We’re going to be responsive. And we’re going to make sure that the community knows everything that we’re doing.”
Contact Reporter Graham Moomaw at gmoomaw@richmonder.org
