Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney today unveiled his administration’s proposed FY2021 budget, a values-based plan consisting of an operating budget of $782.6 million-dollars and an $85 million Capital Improvement Plan. It makes historic investments in schools, roads and affordable housing, along with targeted investments in city departments aimed at improving response time for services, from tree trimming to sidewalk maintenance. It also includes investments in and increased funding for efforts that lift up the most vulnerable in our community, like eviction diversion, workforce development, child and maternal health and pay parity for public defenders. In his address, the mayor noted his budget is built on the four pillars of One Richmond: youth and education; housing and neighborhoods; transportation; and economic development. “We have a responsibility to address the most significant challenges our community faces,” said Mayor Stoney....

This update on COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is being provided by a coalition of metro-Richmond localities: Chesterfield, Henrico, Richmond, Hanover and Goochland, along with the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition.  Local governments remain concerned about the spread of COVID-19. This week, regional cooperation and precautionary planning took a new step forward as more than 50 emergency managers, first responders, health experts and public information professionals met to review roles and responsibilities. Leaders of the participating localities have authorized the activation of the Central Virginia All-Hazards Incident Management Team to help guide the region’s preparations for, and response to, a potential local occurrence of COVID-19.  As a region, we are committed to working with our state and local partners to safeguard our residents and make sure we share the most current information available. As of this writing, Virginia ha...

Establishes paving as a top FY2021 budget priority Mayor Levar Stoney announced today that his FY2021 budget will include $32 million for the paving of roads and maintenance and placement of sidewalks . The mayor’s FY2020 budget, which Richmond City Council passed last May, invested $15 million in paving roads and $1.2 million in sidewalk maintenance and placement, totaling a historic $16.2 million. This proposed FY2021 budget doubles the investment in paving roads . Of the proposed $30 million investment, $15 million will come out of the city’s coffers, and $15 million from state revenue generated and reinvested in the region by the creation of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority through the passage of HB 1541. “Last year’s historic investment, and this year’s record commitment to double our efforts to pave more roads and improve our network of sidewalks, is a major step toward meeting our $100 million in city infrastructure needs after years of deferred m...

La administración del Alcalde Levar Stoney y la dirigencia del Distrito de Salud de Richmond están trabajando en conjunto para asegurarse de que el gobierno local y sus residentes estén preparados para minimizar la difusión de la variante del coronavirus COVID-19. “Mi administración y yo estamos en contacto constante con las autoridades de salud del estado, y estaremos listos en caso de que la situación se intensifique,” dijo el alcalde Stoney. “Como siempre, lave sus manos frecuentemente, cubra su boca con su brazo y vaya al médico si está experimentando síntomas similares a una gripe”, añadió. Aunque el Centro de Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC, por sus siglas en inglés) ha establecido que existe un alto potencial de riesgo a la salud pública en los Estados Unidos, hasta ahora el riesgo inmediato es bajo para el público en general.  Actualmente, el estado de Virginia no tiene ningún caso confirmado de pacientes con el virus. El Departamento de Salud de Virginia (...

The administration of Mayor Levar Stoney and leadership of the Richmond City Health District are working in lockstep to ensure the City of Richmond’s government and residents are prepared to minimize the spread of the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19.   “My administration and I are in constant contact with state health officials, and we’ll be ready if the situation escalates,” said Mayor Stoney. “As always, wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and go to the doctor if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms.” Though the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assessed the potential public health threat as high both globally and in the United States, the immediate health risk to the general American public is considered low at this time. Currently, the Commonwealth of Virginia has zero confirmed cases. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has tested eight individuals for the virus, but all tests returned negative. The VDH is in constant communi...