Year-long overhaul strengthens accountability, transparency, and efficiency to advance Mayor Avula’s vision for a Thriving City Hall  

Mayor Avula and City leaders today announced the relaunch of its purchasing card (P-card) program following a year-long overhaul that strengthened financial controls, increased accountability, and advanced the Administration’s commitment to building a Thriving City Hall. The redesigned program will allow approved departments to make necessary purchases efficiently while operating under strong controls and oversight. 

When Mayor Avula took office in January 2025, one of the recurring challenges identified by residents, employees, and the auditor was the need for greater confidence in the City’s stewardship of public resources. As part of the Administration’s commitment to the first pillar of the Mayoral Action Plan (MAP), building a Thriving City Hall, Mayor Avula directed a pause of the purchasing card program in April 2025, and launched a comprehensive overhaul to address audit findings, strengthen oversight, and rebuild public trust.  

Over the last year, the City’s Department of Procurement Services (DPS): 

• Reduced the number of active purchasing cards from more than 300 to 67, 
• Implemented stronger internal controls, 
• Revised the purchasing card and expenditure policies, 
• Developed a robust, required training program, and 
• Established new compliance monitoring and reporting tools.   

As a result of the overhaul, 12 of 16 audit recommendations have been fully implemented and closed, three are pending formal closure, and the remaining recommendation is being finalized for submission. 

The City has now relaunched the program with 74 active purchasing cards that have been approved under the redesigned program. The program will remain in a controlled implementation phase for 60-90 days while evaluated for compliance and performance before considering any expansion.  

“A Thriving City Hall starts with getting the basics right. When I came into office, I committed to being honest about what was working, what wasn’t, and where we needed to improve. The P-Card relaunch is a powerful example of the kind of transformation my Administration is working to achieve across City Hall every single day,” said Mayor Danny Avula.

“The relaunch of the purchasing card program represents months of work to strengthen internal controls and improve oversight. With our redesigned program, we’ve created the strongest foundation possible for responsible spending, better compliance, and effective service delivery,” said Rene Almaraz, Director, Department of Procurement Services. “We will continue evaluating the program’s effectiveness while ensuring accountability remains at the center of every transaction.” 

“The path forward has been clear from the start: find the problem and fix it. The City is delivering operational improvements that lower costs for residents. These improvements reflect steady, accountable execution and the kind of good governance that builds a stronger Richmond for all Richmonders,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, II.  

For more information about the P-Card Program, including the P-Card Tracker, visit  rva.gov/procurement-services/p-card-progress.