Watch the full budget kickoff, available on YouTube.

Richmond, VA -- On September 25, Mayor Danny Avula and Richmond City Council, along with Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald, hosted a Budget Kickoff to mark the beginning of the City's refreshed budget process. City leadership reviewed changes coming to this year's budget process and renewed shared commitments to the values and priorities guiding their work. The new process is the product of a joint Budget Task Force to allow more time for budget development and to increase community engagement.

"The budget process is about dollars and cents, but it is also about choices," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Through the budget, we make choices about where we put our resources and what kind of city we want to build together, as well as how we do that. I am so proud to strengthen public participation in this important process. Richmond, we see you!"

The Budget kickoff responds to one of the six recommendations to emerge from this summer's Budget Task Force, which identified early collaboration as an important element of a revised process. The recommendations in full are as follows:

1. 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
2. Restructured timeline: move up the timeline for the Mayor's budget submission
3. Efficient work sessions: reorganize budget work sessions around four City of Richmond portfolios (Human Services; Finance and Administration; Planning and Economic Development; and Operations)
4. Standardized amendment procedures: implement a standardized amendment process
5. Enhanced public engagement: conduct additional public hearings before the Mayor's submission of his budget and on Councilmember budget amendments
6. Annual review: reconvene annually for continuous improvement

"This is the first time that we have Council, Administration, and Departmental leaders assembled with buy-in and support for a joint, collaborative budget process. Because of the work of the Task Force, there will be more time and more opportunity for community input," said Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille. "I am really looking forward to the work ahead and know that we will come out with a much better product."

Following today's Budget Kickoff, the timeline will be:

• September: Public Budget Kickoff, early district priority submissions to integrate community concerns into citywide planning.
• December: Facilitated meeting to establish 5-7 shared priorities between Administration and City Council with required public hearings.
• January - February: Town halls for additional input from the community.