Multiple Richmond leaders prepare for upcoming 2027 fiscal year budget

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Multiple Richmond leaders met on Thursday night to discuss the upcoming budget for the 2027 fiscal year.

Mayor Danny Avula, Richmond City Council, Richmond City School Board and Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras held a joint education briefing on Thursday, Aug. 29, to prepare for the upcoming city government budget.

This comes after serious concerns about the budget process for 2026, with the Richmond City Council voting to approve the city's over $3 billion budget. They also previously approved its budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with revisions to accommodate a budget shortfall of about $20 million.

“As an RPS parent and a spouse of an RPS teacher, I know well the challenges Richmond Public Schools faces. Real progress will come through intentional communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to our students and community," Avula said. "I’m grateful we came together to become more informed for the benefit of our students, families, and teachers, and to move closer to a truly thriving Richmond. We will continue to build on our insights and take the next steps forward together.”

The meeting reportedly included budget presentations from the city administration and Richmond Public Schools and provided high-level analyses of those organizational budgets, as well as potential concerns regarding the 2027 government budget.

“This was an impactful, constructive gathering of our schools, the Mayor, and City Council — a true demonstration of shared purpose," Richmond City Council President Cynthia Newbille said. "Together, we not only acknowledged the challenges facing our education system and the city, we also reaffirmed our collective commitment to collaborate, take action, ensure every child and family has access to the strong public schools and resources they need to thrive."

City officials said the meeting was an "excellent opportunity to build greater understanding of each entity’s budgeting process" and will allow the three entities to work together to develop plans for long-term, sustainable funding into the 2027 fiscal year. 

"In a city like Richmond, collaboration is the way to go," Kamras said. "The same kids who come to our schools travel our streets, visit our parks, and need public housing and transportation. While we face daunting budget pressures, I have no doubt that we can come together to find solutions in the best interest of our students."