Richmond Adopts $324.7M Budget, Greenlights $120M Fire Station Bond for November Ballot

The Richmond City Council locked in its financial direction for the coming year, unanimously adopting a balanced $324.7 million general fund budget with no layoffs, then pivoting to a potentially transformative decision: advancing a $120 million general obligation bond to rebuild the city's deteriorating fire stations toward the November 2026 ballot. A parade of SOS Richmond employees and supporters underscored the human stakes behind the numbers, pleading for funding stability for unhoused services even as the city prepares to reissue a competitive procurement process this summer.

• $324.7M balanced budget adopted unanimously — no layoffs, 142 positions added since 2021, $328M in active grants funding parks, housing, and library construction
• $120M fire station GO bond advances toward November 2026 ballot after voter survey shows 69% durable support, clearing the two-thirds threshold
• SOS Richmond employees and board members rally for stable funding as the city plans a competitive RFP for unhoused services this summer
• Council directs staff to create a transparent events policy after discovering nonprofits must know a council member to get auditorium fees waived
• Landscape assessments approved with 3% increases for both Marina Bay and Hilltop districts; Councilmember Zepeda dissents on both

Why it matters: Richmond's ninth and final budget session produced a structurally balanced spending plan that sustains all city services, preserves nearly $60 million in cumulative unhoused services funding since 2021, and positions the city to leverage $328 million in active grants for capital projects — all without a single layoff.