RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Levar Stoney has introduced his last budget as the mayor of the City of Richmond and is waiting for approval from Richmond City Council.
Stoney’s proposed budget includes $9.1 million for raises for Richmond Police Department officers, firefighters and emergency services employees, as well as $3 million for a 4% salary raise for all other city employees and a $15.8 million increase in the Richmond Public Schools (RPS) operating budget.
In addition to money for RPS and raising city employees’ salaries, Stoney has proposed $1.9 million for parks and community centers, as well as $1.8 million for after-school programs and “community-based programs” for youth aged 12 to 19.
The proposed budget also allocates $4.2 to support shelters and services for unhoused people, as well as $5 million to redevelop Creighton Court in the city’s East End.
The proposed budget also allocates $21 million for paving, new bike lanes and maintenance for the city’s roads, bridges and sidewalks, as well as $10 million for improvements to Brown’s Island, $13 million for the Shockoe Project, $500,000 to create a Department of General Services and $1 million to modernize the city’s 311 call center.
Richmond City Council has until the end of May to pass a budget, which will be discussed at several public meetings over the coming weeks. Stoney’s full proposed budget can be found here.
