Richmond community has until this weekend to submit ideas for $3 million People’s Budget
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Local residents have until this Saturday to share their suggestions on how Richmond should spend its $3 million People's Budget aimed at improving the community. From fixing potholes to planting more trees, the city is inviting residents to submit ideas for infrastructure changes they want to see in their neighborhoods. The budget will be distributed across the city's districts, with each district receiving $200,000. The remaining funds will be allocated to areas in greatest need, based on the suggestions and feedback collected from residents. Since the launch of the survey in September, the city has already received over 1,200 responses from locals. Among the ideas submitted are upgrades to local parks, adding new sidewalks, improving street lighting and putting electrical cords underground. “It can be rare to see the government doing something and think, 'Yes, this is exactly the right move,' but for the People's Budget, it really feels good,” said long-time Richmond resident Dan Coakley. Coakley has been a Richmond local for 20 years, and currently lives between Forest Hill Avenue and Jahnke Road on Dorchester Road. He says he has submitted three suggestions for his street -- adding sidewalks, installing extra lighting and introducing measures to slow down drivers. Dorchester Road between Forest Hill Avenue and Jahnke Road currently doesn't have any speed bumps or signs to slow down drivers. (Photo by Dan Coakley) "They come tearing down our neighborhood at like 40 miles per hour," Coakley said. "We have no sidewalks, we have very poor lighting and there's nothing to control speed at all." The first cycle of the survey closes this week, there will be two more cycles after this. Once it concludes, city officials will begin developing proposals based on the community’s feedback. The ideas are then turned into real projects with proposals developed in November. People will brainstorm, collect and discuss ideas in person, online and at meetings about potential improvements to the city. Residents then have the opportunity to vote on the best projects in April 2025. According to the organization, every citizen aged 14 or older can participate. Funding for the winning projects is expected to begin in July 2025. Matthew Slaats, the senior civic innovation manager for Richmond City Council, said the city has received lots of different suggestions. "We've heard about people wanting dog pickup spots around the city ... to everything, like murals to crosswalks," Slaat said. "It's a lot of different things." This is just the beginning of what will become a multi-year effort to involve Richmond residents in the decision-making process for how taxpayer dollars are spent. The city plans to allocate $5 million for the budget next year and $7 million the year after. "We also say that we need to stop doing things to and for the community, and start doing things with the community and I think's that's really the goal of this process," Slaat said. For those who haven’t submitted their ideas yet, there’s still time—residents are encouraged to participate and have their voices heard before the deadline this Saturday. You can submit your ideas here.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Local residents have until this Saturday to share their suggestions on how Richmond should spend its $3 million People's Budget aimed at improving the community. From fixing potholes to planting more trees, the city is inviting residents to submit ideas for infrastructure changes they want to see in their neighborhoods.
The budget will be distributed across the city's districts, with each district receiving $200,000. The remaining funds will be allocated to areas in greatest need, based on the suggestions and feedback collected from residents.
Since the launch of the survey in September, the city has already received over 1,200 responses from locals. Among the ideas submitted are upgrades to local parks, adding new sidewalks, improving street lighting and putting electrical cords underground.
“It can be rare to see the government doing something and think, 'Yes, this is exactly the right move,' but for the People's Budget, it really feels good,” said long-time Richmond resident Dan Coakley.
Coakley has been a Richmond local for 20 years, and currently lives between Forest Hill Avenue and Jahnke Road on Dorchester Road. He says he has submitted three suggestions for his street -- adding sidewalks, installing extra lighting and introducing measures to slow down drivers.
Dorchester Road between Forest Hill Avenue and Jahnke Road currently doesn't have any speed bumps or signs to slow down drivers. (Photo by Dan Coakley)
"They come tearing down our neighborhood at like 40 miles per hour," Coakley said. "We have no sidewalks, we have very poor lighting and there's nothing to control speed at all."
The first cycle of the survey closes this week, there will be two more cycles after this. Once it concludes, city officials will begin developing proposals based on the community’s feedback.
The ideas are then turned into real projects with proposals developed in November. People will brainstorm, collect and discuss ideas in person, online and at meetings about potential improvements to the city.
Residents then have the opportunity to vote on the best projects in April 2025. According to the organization, every citizen aged 14 or older can participate. Funding for the winning projects is expected to begin in July 2025.
Matthew Slaats, the senior civic innovation manager for Richmond City Council, said the city has received lots of different suggestions.
"We've heard about people wanting dog pickup spots around the city ... to everything, like murals to crosswalks," Slaat said. "It's a lot of different things."
This is just the beginning of what will become a multi-year effort to involve Richmond residents in the decision-making process for how taxpayer dollars are spent. The city plans to allocate $5 million for the budget next year and $7 million the year after.
"We also say that we need to stop doing things to and for the community, and start doing things with the community and I think's that's really the goal of this process," Slaat said.
For those who haven’t submitted their ideas yet, there’s still time—residents are encouraged to participate and have their voices heard before the deadline this Saturday.
You can submit your ideas here.
