> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.richmonder.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Oct. 7 Newsletter: Rising taxes won't ease fiscal crunch - URL: https://www.richmonder.org/oct-7-newsletter-rising-taxes-wont-ease-fiscal-crunch/ - Published: 2026-10-07T10:00:59.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-07T10:00:58.000Z - Description: Plus, the city says it has the right to kick the Squirrels out of CarMax Park if they don't start negotiating with VCU, and new townhomes are coming to Grove Avenue. - Author: Michael Phillips - Tags: Newsletter **Weather:** High of 75, another beautiful fall day. **On this date** in 2008, the Richmond City Democratic Committee is advised to retract its mayoral endorsement for Dwight Jones because the vote was not properly conducted. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/RFF2026-Digital-728x90-0826.png)](https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/) **Today's newsletter sponsored by the** **Richmond Folk Festival:** Celebrate American culture with live music, dance, traditional crafts, and more – all for FREE – as the Richmond Folk Festival returns to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront, this Friday-Sunday. [**More info here.**](https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/Richmonder_Politics_Final_102924-1.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-property-tax-bills-will-keep-rising-report-says-but-city-will-still-face-fiscal-constraints/) ### Richmond property tax bills will keep rising, report says, but city will still face ‘fiscal constraints’ Even if Richmond property tax bills continue to rise over the next three years, it won’t be enough to fund City Hall’s spending, according to a new financial analysis. 💸 That’s largely because the city’s spending is rising faster than the tax bills that are supposed to pay for government services, according to the consultants hired to do the latest fiscal projections. CAO Odie Donald II said city officials are exploring “targeted cost avoidance” options, including a possible hiring freeze. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-property-tax-bills-will-keep-rising-report-says-but-city-will-still-face-fiscal-constraints/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/image-7.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/6-rps-schools-no-longer-among-lowest-performing-in-latest-vdoe-school-ratings/) ### 6 RPS schools no longer among lowest performing in latest VDOE school ratings Six Richmond Public Schools are no longer federally identified as low-performing schools in need of comprehensive support and improvement, according to newly released school ratings from the Virginia Department of Education. 🎒 Henderson Middle Principal Allen Vernon credited culture-building work at the school. “Parents are buying into it, that this is a place that’s inclusive and a place that’s safe, and parents are believing in our vision,” he said.[**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/6-rps-schools-no-longer-among-lowest-performing-in-latest-vdoe-school-ratings/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/image-10.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/redevelopment-of-near-west-end-church-into-33-townhomes-gets-ok-from-planning-commission/) ### Redevelopment of Near West End church into 33 townhomes gets OK from Planning Commission After months of negotiation with neighbors, plans are moving forward for the redevelopment of Richmond’s Seventh Street Christian Church on Grove Avenue into 33 townhomes. The project was first pitched last year after the shrinking congregation determined upkeep on the building and property was too great of a financial strain. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/redevelopment-of-near-west-end-church-into-33-townhomes-gets-ok-from-planning-commission/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/image-8.png)](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-eda-tells-squirrels-to-clear-out-of-the-diamond-or-be-treated-as-trespassers/) ### Richmond EDA tells Squirrels to clear out of The Diamond or be treated as trespassers Last month, Richmond’s Economic Development Authority told the Richmond Flying Squirrels to gather up any equipment still being stored at The Diamond and take it somewhere else. In a separate letter from a few days later, a lawyer representing the EDA reminded the Squirrels the city also has the ability to evict the team from the new baseball stadium if it doesn't begin "good-faith negotiations" with VCU over allowing its baseball team to play at CarMax Park. “Please immediately commence negotiations with VCU,” the lawyer wrote. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-eda-tells-squirrels-to-clear-out-of-the-diamond-or-be-treated-as-trespassers/) --- ### Today's sponsor: [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/09/RFF-2025.png)](https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/) The Richmond Folk Festival returns to Downtown Richmond’s riverfront this Friday-Sunday to celebrate American culture with live music, dance, traditional crafts, storytelling, and incredible food. With six stages and more than 30 genres of music, there’s something for everyone—and it’s all FREE! [**Read more.**](https://www.richmondfolkfestival.org/) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/10/Mayos-Bridge-Website-Photo-1-1-1.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/the-mayo-bridge-is-being-put-on-a-road-diet-lanes-will-be-reduced-after-repaving/) ### The Mayo Bridge is being put on a 'road diet.' Lanes will be reduced after repaving The city will repave the Mayo Bridge beginning next week, a process that is expected to take about 10 days. 🛣️ Resurfacing is needed now because the road currently has a Pavement Condition Index of zero out of 100. When that work is finished, the road will be painted with one lane in each direction, instead of the current two lanes. The city will collect data to inform future decisions regarding the planned rebuilding of the bridge. [**Read more here.**](https://www.richmonder.org/the-mayo-bridge-is-being-put-on-a-road-diet-lanes-will-be-reduced-after-repaving/) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/2026/08/sports-section-divider-1.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/tag/sports/) - [**At Richmond’s pro golf tournament, it’s out with the old and in with the youth**](https://www.richmonder.org/at-richmonds-pro-golf-tournament-its-out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-youth/) - “People’s dreams are literally being realized in real-time,” one golfer said of this weekend's Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by Virginia's Richmond Region. - [**Victory for Thomas Jefferson over Armstrong is 32 days in the making**](https://www.richmonder.org/victory-for-thomas-jefferson-over-armstrong-is-32-days-in-the-making/) - The game had been delayed due to excessive heat, and TJ made a second-half comeback after its resumption. --- ### In other news - [**Henrico County decides to eliminate Flock cameras**](https://www.richmonder.org/henrico-county-votes-to-eliminate-flock-cameras/) - Police data showed Henrico had 112 active cameras under its current contract, which was scheduled to renew in November. - [**Old Grace Street is Richmond history. Let’s recognize it.**](https://rvamag.com/community/old-grace-street-is-richmond-history-lets-recognize-it.html) (RVAMag) - The area became a meeting point for three things that now define Richmond: food, music and creativity. - [**RVA Street Art Festival is headed to the Valentine**](https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/10/06/richmond-street-art-festival-exhibit-photo-submissions) (Axios Richmond) - Organizers are looking for locals' high-quality photos and videos of the murals, the works in progress and/or crowds during past festivals. --- ### The editor's desk What a wild story [**from WHRO about the Winchester Gazette**](https://www.whro.org/virginia-center-for-investigative-journalism/2026-10-06/in-winchester-the-truth-about-a-local-news-website-is-the-citys-best-kept-secret), a "news site" that potentially has connections with a personal injury lawyer and allegedly paid reporters to get contact information from traffic accident victims. *Michael Phillips, founder* *mphillips@richmonder.org* --- Sent this by a friend? 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