The initial design of participatory budgeting in Richmond focused on the creation of a process which would give the residents of the City of Richmond a role in helping to decide how $3 million dollars of Capital Improvement Funding is allocated throughout the city. In subsequent years, the Richmond City Council provided overarching guidelines that included eligible PB projects and a detailed list of ineligible projects.

City residents will have primary influence in the project selection, understanding that they must comply with certain restrictions. All projects will be vetted for compliance by the City Council, City Attorney, and Chief Administrative Officer.

Appointed by Council in 2021, the Richmond Participatory Budget Steering Committee further defined the goals, vision, rules, and type of engagement to make sure the process was inclusive and response to community needs. This was focused on making sure that the PB process benefited all council districts, but also targeted the poor, marginalized, and historically underserved communities.

Idea collection will consist of a city wide process that listens to and documents the needs that residents have for their neighborhoods. To do this residents will be asked to contribute specific ideas for how funds can be directly used.

To do this we will ask the question - “How would you improve your neighborhood?” and gather responses via in-person events/meetings, tabling, canvassing, and an online web portal. When possible, engagement efforts should work with already established events, meetings, and festivals. The use of creativity and cultural modes of engagement should be encouraged as a form of celebration and fun.

City Residents and students of Richmond high schools, colleges and universities (regardless of residency) aged 14 and older are eligible to contribute ideas for how RVAPB funds can be used to meet resident needs and improve their neighborhoods.

Idea collection must take place equitably. Efforts will occur across all 9 districts and work in partnership with the City and local partners to achieve that goal. All materials and events must be available in English, Spanish, and ASL as appropriate.

Proposal development brings together groups of district-based volunteers called Budget Delegates to create proposals based on the ideas shared during idea collection. The Budget Delegates will thoroughly review the ideas that were shared about their district, research and gather community input about those ideas, and then develop specific proposals. The goal of the proposal stage is to create tangible, specific projects, with coherent budgets, deeply consider equity, and recognize the impact that the project will have in the community. This will provide all the information necessary to implement ideas as projects.

Voting for RVAPB will take place for the entire month of April 2025. Voting will take place at a variety of locations including libraries, district meetings, local businesses, and online in order to make them as accessible as possible.

The City of Richmond Implements the winning projects between July 2025 and June 2026. The City will create and issue RFPs for the approved projects.

Monthly updates will be provided to the steering commission and to the public from the City, facilitated by the RVAPB staff. The RVAPB website will publicly track and present the status of the projects in development.