Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Richmond, VA — As of May 20, 2025, the City of Richmond Department of Finance is still actively working to send real estate tax bills to mortgage lenders. Once lenders receive the bill, they will typically remit payment to the City of Richmond within one business week.

What do I do with my 2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bill?

If you typically get a real estate tax bill in the mail and...

• I haven't paid the bill: Pay your bill as normal by the June 16, 2025 due date.
• I already paid the bill: Nothing. You may keep the bill for your records.

If you typically do NOT get a real estate tax bill in the mail and...

• I haven't paid the bill: Nothing. It may take a few weeks for the lender to pay the bill on your behalf. You can call your lender to verify.
• I already paid the bill: The Department of Finance will credit your account. If your lender also pays this year's bill, you can request a refund by calling 311.

Earlier this month, the City's Department of Finance issued "2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bills" to residents. These bills accurately reflect amounts owed. However, for taxpayers with mortgages, these bills are typically sent to their lenders, who then pay the taxes on their behalf. The City has not had a practice of sending duplicate copies.

Due to errors in the Department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), approximately 33,000 lender-designated bills were sent to residents rather than to lenders, causing confusion for many.

"I have directed the Department of Finance to revise its SOPs and am personally spending time with staff inside the Department of Finance to understand the breakdowns that occurred," said Mayor Danny Avula. "In addition, I plan to bring in an expert to support change management and improve communication to prevent this type of issue from happening again. Taxpayers were confused and frustrated, and I am committed to finding and fixing the problems within City Hall."

Posted May 19, 2025

~ Honoring the People and Projects that Keep Richmond Running ~

RICHMOND, VA – The Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is proud to join communities across the country in celebrating National Public Works Week (NPWW) from May 19 – 23, 2025. This year’s theme, “People, Purpose, Presence,” honors the dedicated professionals whose work supports our daily lives and strengthens communities through public infrastructure and essential services.

Richmond is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States – a recognition that underscores the city’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and public service.

Throughout the week, DPW will highlight the crucial role its teams play in building a better Richmond – from engineers and traffic technicians to maintaining roads and bridges to refuse collection, DPW employees embody the values of people-centered service, purposeful work, and reliable presence in every Richmond neighborhood.

Celebration highlights:

• Proclamation recognizing NPWW

• Literature Display: City Hall lobby | May 19 through May 23 | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (daily) | 900 East Broad Street

• DPW Touch-A-Truck Event: Wednesday, May 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |Main Street Station (back lot)
  
  • Elementary school students have been invited to get a hand-on with DPW vehicles and meet the teams behind them, and explore how public works impacts their lives

• DPW Employee Awards Ceremony & Luncheon: Thursday, May 22 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  
  • A private, employee-only event recognizing outstanding service, employee and team awards, and commitment among DPW staff

• Speed Management Symposium: Thursday, May 22 | 4 – 6 p.m. |Main Street Station, 1500 East Main Street | Free |Dinner | Open to the Public
  
  • Join us and learn about Richmond’s efforts to create safer streets at this community-focused event.

• • • What to Expect:
    • Dynamic Presentations: Vision Zero, Richmond Connects, roadway safety projects, and Richmond Police insights
    • Info Booths: Connect with various city departments and non-profits, Richmond Police, VDOT, Bike Walk RVA, and more
    • Q&A Session: Ask away!
    • Heavy Refreshments: RSVP recommended at www.rva.gov/public-works/symposium

• Live Music at Main Street Station: Thursday, May 22 | 6 – 8 p.m. at Main Street Station (Patio), 1500 East Main Street | Free | Open to the Public
  
  • Celebrate the spirit of public works with a free outdoor concert on the patio at Main Street Station. Bring family, friends, and lawn chairs for an evening of music, fun, and appreciation.

For more information about DPW, visit rva.gov/public-works or email AskPublicWorks@rva.gov

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

Updated: May 20, 2025

I received an unexpected 2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bill, what should I do now?

Last week, the City’s Department of Finance issued “2025 Second Half Real Estate Tax Bills” to residents. These bills accurately reflect what taxpayers owe. However, for taxpayers who hold mortgages, these bills are typically sent to the mortgage lender to be paid on their behalf. Last week, that normal process did not happen and several thousand taxpayers were issued their bills directly.

What happened?

While importing new taxpayer data provided by mortgage lenders — a process which occurs twice per year — at least 33,000 taxpayer records failed to import completely. These records lacked the data necessary to link taxpayers to their mortgage lenders which resulted in many residents directly receiving real estate tax bills that typically are sent to lenders.

MUNIS, the system that runs the real estate billing process, was upgraded to a new version mid-cycle this year. The first-half billing, running on the outdated system, ran successfully. The Department of Finance is working with the team from MUNIS to diagnose what happened during the second-half billing process.

The Department of Finance will reimport this data, and, once that is completed, checked, and verified, they will issue real estate tax bill to mortgage lenders.

How will you keep this from happening again?

The Department of Finance team is working with the MUNIS vendor to investigate the root cause of this issue. Once diagnosed, Finance will rollout additional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and training to all staff involved in the real estate tax billing process. If necessary, technical updates may be applied to the MUNIS system.

New SOPs and review processes will be created for all external communications from the Department of Finance — not just real estate tax billing.

What do I need to do?

Updated: May 20, 2025

If you typically get a real estate tax bill in the mail and...

• I haven't paid the bill: Pay your bill as normal by the June 16, 2025 due date.
• I already paid the bill: Nothing. You may keep the bill for your records.

If you typically do NOT get a real estate tax bill in the mail and...

• I haven't paid the bill: Nothing. It may take a few weeks for the lender to pay the bill on your behalf. You can call your lender to verify.
• I already paid the bill: The Department of Finance will credit your account. If your lender also pays this year's bill, you can request a refund by calling 311.

What if I already paid the bill and then my lender pays the bill, too?

The Department of Finance will credit your account. Taxpayers can request a refund, and you can check your account balance online or by calling 311.

What if I normally get a bill?

If you normally get a bill for real estate tax — most likely because you do not have mortgage lender — you can pay the bill as normal.

What if I don't own the property that I'm getting a bill for?

If you have an online account, log in and cancel your electronic fund transfer. If you need additional assistance, please contact 311.

What if I didn't get a bill?

You should log into your online account, or contact 311 if you need additional assistance.

When are real estate tax bills due?

Real estate tax payments are due to the City of Richmond on June 16. While the Department of Finance anticipates issuing bills to mortgage lenders within the coming days, taxpayers can contact their lender to ensure their bill is successfully paid.

I still have questions, who can I contact?

Individuals with additional questions can call 311 for more information.

Posted May 16, 2025

~ No art experience needed – just your time, energy, and love for Richmond ~

RICHMOND, VA – The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility (OETM), a division within the Department of Public Works (DPW) invites volunteers to join them for a Community Paint Day on Saturday, May 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The event offers residents a hands-on opportunity to contribute to a public art piece that also serves a larger purpose: improving transportation safety.

The mural is a key element in a traffic calming project designed to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety near Linwood Holton Elementary School. The artwork, inspired by the creative visions of Linwood Holton students, has been arranged into a cohesive mural by Sam Skrimpz, resident artist with the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility.

Painted directly onto portions of the street that are not intended for vehicle traffic, the mural acts as a colorful visual cue to alert drivers that they are entering a pedestrian oriented space. Street murals have been shown to help slow traffic, create a sense of place and enhance community-rooted safety culture.

The project was shaped by extensive community input gathered through the Richmond Connects outreach process, which identified local safety priorities. The mural and associated improvements are part of a broader effort to create more equitable, accessible, and vibrant public spaces across Richmond. “This mural is more than just art—it’s a tool for safety and a symbol of community collaboration,” said Dironna Clarke, DPW Deputy Director. “By inviting residents to help paint it, we’re giving them a chance to take part in shaping a safer, more connected neighborhood.”

Volunteer sign-up required, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054EACAD29AAF4C52-56805052-community

Event Details:

Who: Richmond Department of Public Works and the Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility

What: Street Art Mural Installation by Community Volunteers | Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Project (LQC)

When: Saturday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road, near Linwood Holton Elementary School

Why: The purpose of the Community Paint Day mural installation is to enhance pedestrian, bicyclist, and driver safety at the intersection of Laburnum Avenue and Hermitage Road. The mural will serve as a visual traffic-calming tool, encouraging driver to slow down and look for people on foot and on bikes. Beyond improving safety, the project also aims to promote community involvement by giving residents a direct role in shaping their public spaces. This initiative reflects priorities identified through the Richmond Connects outreach process.

For more information on the LQC program and the Richmond Connects Plan, please visit https://www.rva.gov/public-works/lqc

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The Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) Program is a key initiative in the city’s efforts to promote transportation equity, improve public safety, and foster community engagement in urban planning. As the first phase of the Richmond Connects implementation process, LQC aims to address pressing safety concerns and provide more immediate solutions while longer-term, permanent infrastructure changes are being developed. Although LQC projects are not intended to replace permanent infrastructure, they provide essential, timely improvements to make streets safer and more accessible in the interim.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Works (DPW) is one of only 195 currently accredited public works agencies in the United States. DPW’s portfolio comprises a wide array of services to include leaf collection; street, sidewalk, and alley maintenance; trash collection; recycling; grass cutting; graffiti removal; parking enforcement; urban forestry; street signs; traffic signals and pavement markings and civil engineering. In addition, DPW maintains upkeep on most city buildings; issues permits for working in the city’s right-of-way; manages the RVA Bike Share program and maintains the fleet of city vehicles. DPW’s operating budget comes from the general fund of the City of Richmond.  For more information about DPW services, click here or call 3-1-1

In just the second quarter of this year, AmeriCorps members have provided services to more than 8,000 Richmond residents. Over 6,500 of those individuals reported an increase in health knowledge and access to resources critical to improving their quality of life.

For nearly two decades, Richmond’s AmeriCorps program has been a cornerstone of civic engagement and community support. From repairing homes for vulnerable residents and supporting early childhood literacy, to preparing high school students for postsecondary education and offering Peer Recovery Coaching and Community Health Worker services, the program has addressed a broad range of community needs. It has also played a key role in maintaining the city’s parks, trails, and public spaces.

Despite federal setbacks, the City of Richmond remains committed to service, workforce development, and community impact. The city will continue working with partners and funders to withstand the AmeriCorps program through the challenges ahead.