Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is proud to announce the results of another successful audit period (Oct. 25, 2025 through Jan. 28, 2026) in which 23 open audit recommendations were closed or removed as no longer applicable. This follows the closure or removal of 32 recommendations from the previous period (June 14, 2025, through October 24, 2025). 

“We see the auditor as an important partner in our continuous work to look for it, find it, and fix it, and we are extremely grateful for the role his team plays in helping us modernize internal systems, strengthen oversight, and improve accountability,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “We have used recent audit findings to inform major transformation efforts and to prioritize initiatives in my proposed budget.” 

Of the 21 recommendations closed this period, 17 were considered high priority. 117 total recommendations remain, down from 130 the previous period. 

“Our goal is continuous quality improvement and world-class service delivery.  These outcomes are evidence that we’re clearly on that path, reflected in the month-after-month progress made in closing these open audit recommendations,” said CAO Odie Donald II . 

Each quarter, the City Auditor publishes an Open Audit Recommendations Follow-Up Report detailing progress made on open audit recommendations across all City departments. Those reports can be found on rva.gov . 

The City of Richmond shifted to optional remote work at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, ahead of forecasted severe weather. Normal operations are expected to resume on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. 

Given the forecasted severity of the weather, some City Services may be impacted. Specifically: 

• The Department of Social Services; Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities; and Richmond Public Libraries will not host public appointments or visitors after 1 p.m. UPDATE: The Main Library will close to visitors as of 1 p.m.
• Services provided on the 1st Floor of City Hall will remain available, while EDI and Southside Plaza will not host public appointments or visitors after 1 p.m.
• Property and building inspections may be delayed. 

Residents should visit go.rva.gov/severe-weather for the latest updates and follow the City of Richmond’s social media channels for updates on City operations. For more information on weather conditions, please monitor reliable resources such as the National Weather Service.  

 Inclement Weather Shelters  

To protect and shelter Richmond’s most vulnerable residents, the Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter, located at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue will hold continuous operations through noon on Tuesday, March 17th. Libraries are closed to visitors as of 1 p.m., and transportation was provided to residents from the library to the Salvation Army Shelter.  

To ensure there is shelter for anyone in need, the CARITAS surge shelter will also hold continuous operations through noon on Tuesday, March 17.  

Richmond Ready Alerts  

Residents are encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts to receive critical emergency and weather alerts from the City of Richmond. Residents can text ‘RVAREADY’ to 888-777 to receive a sign-up link or visit rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts to learn more.  

“TechDesk” Consultation to Identify Service Gaps and Improve Cross-Departmental Coordination 

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the launch of TechDesk, a new pilot program designed to help commercial permit applicants navigate complex technical review questions which may arise during the permitting process. The structured consultation program will bring together representatives from reviewing departments and offices to provide coordinated guidance, clarify requirements, and identify next steps in resolving outstanding issues related to development permitting and review.  

“Government is here to work for people, not against them,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II . “TechDesk will ensure that, when a permitting or planning issue is raised through the course of development, applicants aren’t waiting around for an answer. This is a forcing mechanism for accountability, and I am confident it will set us on the right course for streamlining these processes moving forward.”

TechDesk is not a separate permitting process and does not replace standard permitting procedures. Rather, it is a mechanism through which commercial development applicants may escalate questions or concerns to ensure a coordinated response from all City-reviewing stakeholders.  

Insights gathered over the 90 – 180 day pilot will help the City identify high-impact opportunities for operational improvement, which will be incorporated to the City’s new permitting software platform, currently under development by the Department of Planning and Development Review.  

“Time and time again, we’ve heard from the development community how onerous our permitting and review process can be,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Al Wiggins . “TechDesk is an early start at making complex permitting challenges run smoother so that we can be a City of choice for the next great development. As a government, we need to be ready to partner in making those ideas a reality.”

For more information on the process, see below. To learn more about the TechDesk and review frequently asked questions, please visit the City of Richmond Permits and Inspections webpage and open the “TechDesk” drop down menu. 

How does it work?

Step 1:

Applicants who have questions or are otherwise experiencing issues with their project can contact the City at PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov to seek clarification or guidance. Please include the following information:

• Project name
• Permit number
• Property address
• Description of issue or question
• Relevant plan sheets or supporting documentation

Step 2:

City staff will review the inquiry and attempt to resolve the issue within five business days.

Step 3:

If the issue cannot be resolved through standard coordination, the matter may be elevated to the TechDesk.

Step 4:

The applicant will be prompted to schedule a consultation through the TechDesk scheduling portal. If you have not been contacted by the TechDesk to schedule your consultation within 6 business days from the receipt of your original inquiry, you may reach out to techdesk@rva.gov to request a booking.  

Step 5:

Relevant departments will meet with the applicant to discuss the issue and identify clear next steps.  

Step 6:

Following the consultation, a summary of action items will be provided to the applicant.  

TechDesk consultations will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am –3:00pm EST and will be conducted via Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise coordinated by the applicant with TechDesk staff.  

Elections Office & Early Voting Closure Notice 03/16/2026

Due to inclement weather, the Office of Elections and early voting will close at 12:00 p.m. today (March 16).

If you have an urgent election-related matter, please email vote@rva.gov. Our office will try to respond to emails as available. The office is expected to reopen on Tuesday, March 17 at 8:30 a.m.

Updates will be posted on this website if conditions change.

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is pleased to make available its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)  for the Fiscal Year which ended on June 30, 2025. The 195-page report details the City’s financial activities throughout the fiscal year and includes an overview and analysis of financial statements and disclosures so that residents may better understand their government’s financial footing as we execute on the FY2026 budget and enter the FY2027 budget  season.  

“Protecting fiscal integrity ensures the City is poised for future growth and is able to meet its service demands” write Mayor Danny Avula and Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II in the report’s introduction. “Moving forward to FY 2026, the Administration will continue to expand on FY 2025 accomplishments, streamline processes, enhance customer service, and ensure continued financial stability and resiliency.” 

The report, which was assembled by the City’s Department of Finance and verified via an unaudited opinion by external auditor CliftonLarsonAllen, conforms with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) established by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Key takeaways include:

• The City ended FY2025 in a stable and positive financial position 
• General Fund revenues slightly exceeded expenditures 
• Bond ratings were reaffirmed or improved by all major rating agencies 
• The surplus totals $12.6 million, allocated as follows: 
  • Revenue Stabilization: $4,436,154   
  • Unassigned: $1,901,209   
  • Capital Reserve: $5,069,890   
  • Special Purpose: $1,267,473  

“You can tell a lot about a government by how it handles taxpayer dollars, and this year’s ACFR says a lot about Richmond,” said CAO Donald. “It says that we are in a strong financial position, that we have budgeted appropriately to meet our obligations, and that we are capable of making the investments necessary to move Richmond ever forward. I encourage every Richmonder to browse the document and gain a fuller understanding of the depth and breadth of your government operations.”   

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