Mayor Avula has announced a series of reforms aimed at improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Richmond’s city government. The measures respond to recent audit findings and seek to update existing processes to deliver better outcomes for residents.
The Mayor’s office participated in a Budget Task Force this summer to review the city’s budget development process. The task force included members from both the Richmond City Council—Katherine Jordan and Ellen Robertson—as well as staff from the Council and Administration, including Council Chief of Staff RJ Warren, Chief Administration Officer Odie Donald II, Mayor’s Chief of Staff Lawson Wijesooriya, Senior Policy Advisor Thad Williamson, and Director of Budget and Strategic Planning Meghan Brown.
The goal was to examine current procedures and identify ways to improve transparency and align resources with community needs. The task force developed six recommendations: “Early collaboration: The Mayor and Council hold a public budget kickoff to establish shared understanding of the budget process timeline and later meet for a facilitated discussion on top budget priorities; Restructured timeline: move up the timeline for the Mayor’s budget submission; Efficient work sessions: reorganize budget work sessions around four City of Richmond portfolios (Human Services; Finance and Administration; Planning and Economic Development; and Operations); Standardized amendment procedures: implement a standardized amendment process; Enhanced public engagement: conduct additional public hearings before the Mayor’s submission of his budget and on Councilmember budget amendments; Annual review: reconvene annually for continuous improvement.”
These recommendations will be presented by the Budget Task Force. Afterward, city administration and council will collaborate on standard operating procedures, draft legislation if needed, and communicate any changes broadly.
In addition to revising the budget process, the city is overhauling its grant-making approach for non-departmental funding. Currently, more than 70 community-based organizations receive grants through a system managed entirely by city staff—a method that requires significant staffing resources but lacks centralized policies. On August 28, 2025, Mayor Avula introduced plans to use an intermediary organization model focused on four areas: Economic Mobility, Children and Education, Arts and Culture, and Health. This change follows recommendations from a February 2025 City Auditor’s report.
City agencies have also completed their Strategic Action Plans as required by local ordinances ORD. 2018-030 and ORD. 2019-157. These plans aim to provide accountability within city government. In addition to meeting these requirements, Mayor Avula intends to introduce his Mayoral Action Plan (MAP) later this fall. Built around seven pillars—including effective governance, neighborhood housing needs, family success for children, inclusive economic growth, protection of rights for all residents, sustainable planning for future generations, and honest storytelling about Richmond’s past—the MAP will guide policy-making going forward.
“Together, these efforts take critical steps towards the City’s commitment to building a thriving Richmond,” said Mayor Avula.
