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# Richmond’s 2028 budget process begins with a focus on affordability, workforce investment and collaboration
- URL: https://www.richmonder.org/richmonds-2028-budget-process-begins-with-a-focus-on-affordability-workforce-investment-and-collaboration/
- Published: 2026-09-23T09:52:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-23T09:56:19.000Z
- Description: Affordability will be central to the budget discussions and development, the mayor said.
- Author: George Copeland Jr.
- Tags: City Government, #the-bridge

City officials outlined their approach to the upcoming budget process on Tuesday at the Boys and Girls Clubs' Teen and Community Center, where they were joined by community leaders and members for a kickoff event.

“We will approach this year's budget planning with both the vision and the discipline that Richmonders expect,” Mayor Danny Avula said, “and I really look forward to working with all of you as we get underway.”

Affordability will be central to the budget discussions and development. 

Avula said officials plan to commit 2.5% of real estate tax revenue to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, [a year ahead of the legal requirement](https://www.richmonder.org/avula-six-city-councilors-strike-compromise-on-funding-affordable-housing-trust-fund/), and pointed to the state of public housing and infrastructure as concerns that must be addressed. 

The mayor also stressed the need to ensure residents can afford to stay in the city by tackling the cost of living.

[Data: Housing is more out of reach and homeownership is down for younger RichmondersNew data from UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center shows housing prices have risen three times faster than younger workers’ wages in Richmond.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1-abc732a6-6062-4a19-9dcf-bc68cd034c89.png)The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/Randolph-houses-5650c7e9-1be9-4f9b-8ce9-1879a98db9ba.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/data-housing-is-more-out-of-reach-and-homeownership-is-down-for-younger-richmonders/)

The budget process will begin during a City Council work session on Oct. 5.

The budget for fiscal year 2028 will be developed at the same time as the latest assessments are released for Richmond property owners, a change from past years.

With assessments expected to rise significantly, Avula offered his previously suggested one-cent reduction of the real estate tax, in addition to [the tax deferral program approved by the City Council](https://www.richmonder.org/council-oks-new-tax-deferral-program-letting-homeowners-delay-impact-of-higher-assessments/), as potential solutions for homeowners facing higher prices.

“I think it's things like that that are going to have an impact on this year's budget, and that we've got to make sure that we're considering,” Avula said when asked about any planned commitments for assessment relief.

[After Avula proposes ‘modest’ real estate tax relief, 3 Council members push for moreThe city’s real estate tax rate hasn’t been lowered since 2008.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1-2607826b-d3aa-43e5-bbec-3ec9e28b3b4c.png)The RichmonderGraham Moomaw![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/Richmonder_Politics_Final_102924-3933d070-4800-434b-86a0-c0495d13afb0.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/after-avula-proposes-modest-real-estate-tax-relief-3-council-members-push-for-more/)

Continued investment in a skilled and effective city workforce was also labeled a priority for officials, to ensure quality, responsive government operations for residents, alongside other aspects of the city's Mayoral Action Plan that will continue to be part of the budget process.

The kickoff event came four months after the budget for Richmond’s current fiscal year was approved. That process was shaped by the recommendations of the Budget Task Force, composed of council members, staff and administration officials, who developed further improvements during the summer that will be integrated into the FY28 budget process.

The recommendations the Task Force provided include an earlier start to the budget work session, more efficient work sessions, sharing budget developments and financial forecasting, more public discussions, and an organized system for collecting and delivering councilors’ questions to the city administration.

City officials, pleased with the task force's changes to the process and its results last year, celebrated the work done so far and eagerly anticipated further improvements to the process.

“I had not seen that level of collaboration in quite some time,” City Council President Cynthia Newbille said of the task force’s previous work, “and I'm excited that we are reconvening.”

[Ahead of final budget vote, Council members praise overhauled processBudget season is set to finish Monday night, when the Council will hold the last of several public hearings and a final vote.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-1-8a31d822-a229-4543-ad79-85381118fb9a.png)The RichmonderGraham Moomaw![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/99/06/99067822-fdfd-42b1-ab19-555c33eefb89/content/images/thumbnail/Richmonder_Politics_Final_102924-1-c7b79f0b-5410-4405-9c0b-e09a6125ec48.jpg)](https://www.richmonder.org/ahead-of-final-budget-vote-council-members-praise-overhauled-process/)

City officials are also eager to hear the public’s perspective on the budget. While community discussions will likely be held from January to February next year, according to the budget timeline shared by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II, officials used the kickoff event to begin gathering input on what priorities the public wanted to see addressed during the process.

Community members present for the kickoff event were encouraged to share their thoughts on which parts of the Mayoral Action Plan they saw as essential to the city's future. Donald also said more opportunities for public input could be possible in the months ahead.

“Together is the only way we get things done, and it's probably more important for this effort than any other,” Donald said. “Because the budget is our plan. It's not the city's plan, it's not the residents' plan, it's not the union's plan. It's all of our plan, it’s the plan that we’re all using to deliver for our community.”