Mobile homes, housing fund and schools top list of concerns at budget hearing

As City Council continues its review of Mayor Danny Avula’s budget proposal, more than 70 Richmonders turned out Monday night to air their views on its spending aims. 

Much of the turnout was fueled by Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities, or RISC, an outspoken group of local church congregations that has been particularly vocal on issues of affordable housing and gun violence. 

Holding signs that read “Follow the Law” and “Healthy Homes Now,” RISC members took to the podium to castigate the city for not budgeting additional money for a mobile home repair program or depositing certain funds into Richmond’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. 

“These families need our collective help now,” Marvin Gilliam, the pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist in Church Hill and co-president of RISC, told City Council while urging it to put $1 million toward mobile home repairs. 

Residents’ calls for that funding, as well as for additional money for Richmond Public Schools and increased pay for workers who provide janitorial and security services to the city through third-party contractors, come as the city faces its first lean budget cycle in several years. 

With COVID-era money dried up, inflation eating into bottom lines, greater salary commitments as a result of collective bargaining and a looming assessment freeze next year, Avula has repeatedly warned Council that funds are tight. The spending plan he released this March includes cuts across numerous city departments and a lower funding increase than the school system requested: $9.6 million in additional dollars as opposed to the School Board’s $30.8 million ask. 

The budget’s omission of another tranche of funding for the mobile home repair and replacement program, which will be carried out by housing nonprofit Project:HOMES, sparked one of the highest numbers of complaints from RISC Monday. 

Last year’s budget included $800,000 for the program but required that before any funds could be disbursed, a study of “sustainable options” to address the program and the feasibility of the city acquiring land to develop its own mobile home park had to be conducted. That study was released in March. 

While the $800,000 remains available for use, RISC has accused Avula of going back on a promise made at a forum held by the group this March to commit an additional $800,000 to the initiative. 

“The budget does not reflect this commitment,” said Gilliam. 

The mayor’s office indicated that Avula was confusing the money that still hasn’t been spent with an infusion of new cash. 

Councilor Kenya Gibson has submitted a budget amendment seeking an additional $1 million for the program. 

RISC members also reiterated a complaint they have made over the past several years that the city is not complying with an ordinance City Council passed in 2021 that funnels revenues from expiring property tax abatements to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The ordinance was intended to provide a reliable stream of money for the fund but has never been followed. 

Instead, the city has directed millions to affordable housing efforts through American Rescue Plan Act funds and bond sales, an approach Avula’s budget continues in directing $30 million in bonds over the next three years to the trust fund. 

“This failure to put the money as required by law robs $8.2 million from the trust fund for the next budget year and denies help to hundreds of families needing affordable housing,” said RISC member and attorney Martin Wegbreit. 

Not all of the comments Monday focused on housing. A contingent of Richmond Public Schools employees urged City Council to fully fund the school division’s ask, largely out of concern that any shortfalls could threaten salary increases promised under collective bargaining agreements. 

RPS has said it needs an extra $16.5 million to cover collective bargaining costs — more than the additional $9.6 million Avula has proposed. 

“I share the concerns of many that the RPS budget doesn’t add up and we don’t know where funding is going, and we welcome auditing and oversight from this council,” said Anne Forrester, president of the Richmond Education Association, the local teachers union. “However, I fear that if RPS does not receive adequate funding for our collective bargaining agreements, unpopular cuts will be made in order to fund them or we’ll have to go back to the negotiation table.” 

Another comment by Forrester, that a long-time food services assistant’s wages over many years wouldn’t equal the salary increase Avula has proposed for himself, sparked a rebuke from Council President Cynthia Newbille, who had told commenters they could not specifically mention members of the administration. 

“We’re not referring to the administration, the mayor or other department heads,” she said.