On Tuesday, Richmond overwhelmingly voted Yes 4 RPS. It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness such deep belief in the promise of Richmond’s future from every corner of our city.

More than 67% of our neighbors voted to authorize a dedicated 1% local sales tax for school construction. This will create a steady funding source expected to generate nearly $47 million every year for school construction. Over time, that revenue can support as much as $850 million in investments, helping to break the cycle of generation after generation of students learning in aging and outdated facilities.

As I said in July when I announced my plan, I am committed to accelerating school construction while also providing targeted tax relief.

Next Steps

1. I will introduce legislation in partnership with City Council leadership to increase the sales tax rate by 1% and reduce the meals tax rate from 7.5% to 6.5%. The new sales tax rate can take effect no sooner than the first day of a month at least 120 days after ordinance passes. Council and Administrative leadership have already initiated that process, and we’ll have a timeline for the legislation soon.

2. I will introduce a budget in March based on a real estate tax rate of $1.19 instead of the current $1.20.

    

Keeping these commitments to increased funding for school construction and tax relief will require thoughtful planning with our partners on City Council. We will need to make some short-term sacrifices this fiscal year and continue carefully managing our spending.

I want to reiterate my commitment to ensure that your tax dollars are stewarded well and invested thoughtfully. I have attended several of RPS’s community meetings for their Facilities Modernization Plan, and am encouraged by their thoughtful work to ensure that our residents’ voices are shaping facility priorities.

I will continue to follow the process closely, and I have asked that their final plan consider all options for maximizing the impact of every dollar. 

Our shared goal must be to use these resources wisely so that as many current and future RPS students as possible have access to modern school buildings as quickly as possible.

That is our obligation to the next generation, and it is the vision that will guide my administration as we help shape the path forward. 

Submissions should advance priorities aimed at expanding housing choice and further activating the Chamberlayne corridor   

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is issuing a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to seek concepts and gauge market interest for redevelopment of the City-owned property at 4929 Chamberlayne Avenue. 

The .97-acre property, currently home to a vacant former school building, sits at the corner of Azalea and Chamberlayne Avenues, two major corridors in the City’s northside. It is bordered by Henrico County to the north and sits near several important amenities, including a Route 1 bus stop, a future North-South Pulse BRT station, Pine Camp Arts and Community Center, and Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center. 

“There is so much potential with this property,” said Richmond’s Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone . “We’re eager to see proposals which take full advantage of that potential, creating amenity-adjacent housing along a critical northside corridor in a way that maximizes benefit to the entire community.” 

Because this RFEI is informational in nature, HCD is open to a range of potential uses, including multi-family residential, ground-floor commercial, community space, or some combination thereof. Respondents are encouraged to think creatively about viable uses which will utilize the full site to meet the City’s development goals, including the strengthening of the Chamberlayne Ave. corridor, the expansion of housing choice, and encouraging connectivity to adjacent amenities, among others. 

Submissions are due to HCD by 3:00 p.m. ET on December 18, 2026  and will be used to inform the timing, structure, and requirements of a more detailed Request for Proposals (RFP), tentatively planned for Winter 2027. 

Please read the full RFEI for submission requirements and other considerations. 

The City of Richmond will close in observance of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11. All city offices, including City Hall, will be closed. We will return to our regular business hours on Thursday, November 12. Keep reading for information about City service schedules during the holiday.  

For the full city holiday calendar, please visit the Holiday Closings page .   

• There will be no trash collection or bulk and brush collection on Wednesday, November 11. All collections will be delayed by one day. Collections scheduled for pick-up on Wednesday will be picked up on Thursday and so on through Friday, November 13. 
• The East Richmond Road Convenience Center (ERRCC) Landfill, located at 3800 East Richmond Road, will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. ERRCC will reopen on Thursday, November 12. 
• Recycling services will operate as normal on Wednesday, November 11. 
• All Richmond Public Libraries are closed on Wednesday, November 11 and will reopen on Thursday, November 12. 
• RVA311 will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. The public will have 24/7 access to self-service via RVA311.com and the mobile app. 
• Richmond Public Schools will operate on their normal schedule on Veterans Day. 
• All Parks and Rec offices and community centers are closed Wednesday, November 11. After School Programs will operate on their normal schedule. 
• The Department of Public Utilities Call Center is closed Wednesday, November 11. For utility emergencies, customers should call 804-646-4646 and press Option 1. For gas leaks, leave the area and call 911. 
• Richmond Animal Care and Control will be closed on Wednesday, November 11. RACC will reopen with regular walk-in hours on Thursday, November 12. 

RICHMOND, VA – On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, two shooting threats were reported by phone at City of Richmond polling locations.

The first threat was reported at approximately 12:42 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School. A second threat was reported at approximately 1:43 p.m. at Barack Obama Elementary School.

The Richmond Police Department responded by deploying multiple resources to assess the threats, conduct security checks, and help ensure the safety of voters, election officers, and staff at both locations.

The Office of Elections prepared for the possibility of security incidents on Election Day and has established procedures for responding in coordination with law enforcement. Voting continues at both locations, with ongoing security assessments and coordination between the Richmond Police Department and election officials.

The safety of voters, election officers, and staff remains our highest priority. These incidents should not deter Richmond residents from exercising their right to vote. The Office of Elections is working closely with law enforcement to maintain a secure voting environment and ensure that voters can cast their ballots safely and without intimidation.

UPDATE: A third incident involving a reported bomb threat occurred at approximately 2:54 p.m. at Precinct 113 (Albert Hill Middle School).

Responding officers found no suspicious activity or evidence of an immediate threat at the locations assessed. Law enforcement continues to monitor the situation.

The Office of Elections will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional updates as appropriate.

Polls remain open until 7:00 p.m. Voters can find official election information and updates at www.rva.gov/elections.