Good afternoon President Newbille, Vice President Jordan, and Honorable Members of Council. 

Thanks so much for the opportunity to be here with you today. A couple of weeks ago, we kicked off the budget process together. 

There, we emphasized our shared desire to continue building on and improving the collaborative process we started at the very beginning of our time together back in January 2025.   

Since that time, we’ve been continuously looking at our budget process: what’s working, what we can improve, and how we can make better decisions together for the residents of Richmond.   

I want to thank our City Assessor, Richie McKeithen, CAO Donald, and PFM, as well as the incredible work of our Finance and Budget Teams, for helping lay the groundwork for this conversation.  

Last year, I asked our teams to develop stronger revenue forecasting tools for three key reasons:  

First, we need good information to be able to put our fingers on the financial trends and make the best decisions that we can.    

Second, the budget is fundamentally a partnership between the Administration and Council. That partnership is stronger when we are all working from the same set of facts.  

Third, we’ve got to be able to look beyond a single budget year so that the conversations we are having, and ultimately the decisions we are making, support the city’s long-term financial health.    

Today is a next step: we’re bringing more clarity to the process by sharing our revenue forecasts and laying out some of the significant drivers and decisions that are before us.     

What we’ve heard today is that we are entering a different fiscal environment.    

The tax assessor’s presentation laid out the timeline and impacts of the new assessment calendar, and laid out a revenue projection that was much lower than I, and I imagine many of you, were expecting when we were considering 18 months of presumed growth.  

As a city, we face operational realities such as debt service obligations, personnel and benefit costs, and the need to prioritize our workforce as we continue to compete with surrounding local and state government, as well as the private sector.  

This is all happening against the backdrop of a federal government that is creating volatility for local government funding, and leaving more and more for us to solve on our own.  

As we navigate those realities, I want to be clear about the commitments I am bringing into this budget process: honoring our workforce, pursuing economic development, keeping families safe and thriving, and improving service delivery remain some of my most important priorities.  

Our goal in sharing this information is simple - to help all of us – the administration, Council, and the public, have a clearer picture of our fiscal outlook as we head into budget season.   

My hope is that this shared understanding will help us craft a budget that balances our priorities and needs, while protecting the city’s long-term fiscal health.   

In closing, there are real challenges and real opportunities ahead-- and it means our partnership and our shared understanding of our financial realities are more important than ever.  

I am looking forward to your discussion today, and the questions it raises for you, and to ongoing conversations as we embark on the FY28 budget making process together.   

Thank you for your service. 

Oct. 4-10. marks National Fire Prevention Week, the nation’s oldest public health observance, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association. Richmond Fire Department is joining the observance by asking residents to make fire safety a priority at home and in the community. 

Many house fires are preventable, but fire can still touch any home. Richmond has had seven fire fatalities in the last two years, and behind each number is a family and a neighborhood that was changed forever. 

“We grieve every life lost to fires in our city, and we owe it to them to do everything we can to prevent the next one,” said Richmond Fire Chief Jeffrey Segal. “Fire Prevention is a daily practice, whether it’s testing a smoke alarm or making sure residents know how to safely heat their homes, our job is to be out in the community, educating our residents and making sure they have the resources they need to protect themselves and their families.” 

This year’s theme for Fire Prevention Week is “Charge into Safety,” focusing on every day charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. Some best practices include: 

• Using the cord and charger that came with the device or one approved by the manufacturer. 
• Always charge devices on a hard, flat surface. 
• Unplugging devices once they are fully charged 
• Charge large items such as e-bikes, scooters, and power tools outside when possible. Do not block exits when charging. 
• Stop using devices that are very hot, start to swell, smells strange, leaks, smokes, or makes popping or hissing sound. 

Throughout Fire Prevention Week, Richmond Fire Department will be out in the community with events and educational activities for residents of all ages. To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit  www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week.

Over the last several days my Administration has continued to work with City Council to bring back the solar PPA ordinances. While I still believe in the benefits of this project, late this afternoon I learned of a potential relationship in one of our departments that could put the legitimacy of the solar PPA ordinances in jeopardy. As a result, I am no longer requesting that Council reconsider the solar PPA ordinances, and I am directing the CAO to look into the situation immediately. To the advocates and supporters of the solar PPA ordinances, I am deeply grateful to you for your dedication and commitment to building a sustainable Richmond.

Logic & Accuracy (L&A) Testing

The Electoral Board will conduct Logic & Accuracy (L&A) testing of CAP (Central Absentee Precinct) voting equipment in preparation for the upcoming election.

Logic & Accuracy testing is a public process used to verify that voting equipment is properly programmed and accurately records and tabulates votes as expected before ballots are cast.

Testing Details

Date: Tuesday, September 6, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 1st Floor Tech Center, 2134 W. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23227

Pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Code of Virginia, the City of Richmond Electoral Board will conduct Logic and Accuracy (L&A) testing of CAP (Central Absentee Precinct) voting equipment prior to the election.

Public Attendance: Members of the public may attend the L&A testing only if they present a physical letter of authorization from their respective political party chair. The letter must be provided upon arrival and will be required for admission to the testing.

The Administration is continuing to explore all possible avenues to bring solar energy to City-buildings to reduce the City’s long-term energy costs, increase the use of renewable energy, and advance Richmond’s commitment to a more sustainable and resilient environment.  

Yesterday, the Administration sent a memo to Council with possible paths forward. While the first path forward is unfortunately no longer an option, we remain hopeful that the project will move forward in some form, and stand ready to support Council in their efforts to keep the City’s commitment to building a sustainable future for all Richmonders. We heard from multiple councilors at Monday’s meeting that they were willing to meet as necessary to work on a path forward. 

Timeline options, as outlined in CAO’s Sep. 30 memo  

1. Move forward with all 39 sites (5MW)  
   1. Requires approving proposed ordinances by midnight, October 1 
   2. This would require calling a special meeting with required notice periods 
   3. Notice special meeting with required notice periods (today, September 30) 
   4. Hold special meeting and consider ordinances in accordance with appropriate procedural requirements 
   5. Note: this would realize ~$20M in value of the 25-year term 

2. Move forward with 17 sites (3MW)  
   1. Meet and consider proposed ordinances on Monday, October 5 
   2. This would require calling a special meeting with required notice periods 
   3. Hold special meeting and consider ordinances in accordance with appropriate procedural requirements 
   4. Note: this would realize ~$15M in value of the 25-year term; reduced scope is a result of the smaller projects no longer being financially viable  
   5. Council action after October 6th would render this project financially unviable 

3. Take no action: project does not move forward