After weeks of discussion, Richmond’s proposed $3 billion budget for fiscal year 2026 is moving toward approval with only modest changes from City Council, including keeping salary increases for the city’s highest-paid employees.

Another hours-long budget work session Monday afternoon saw council members approve a number of reductions and enhancements to the budget agreed to by both City Council and Mayor Danny Avula’s administration.

Approved council amendments included budget enhancements restoring funding for nonprofit partners, as well as funding for eviction diversion, right to counsel and family crisis services.

Around $1.7 million in funding also was proposed for projects approved through the Richmond People’s Budget. Proposed reductions included half a million in funding to the Richmond Resilience Initiative, alongside removing vacant positions in the Office of Community Wealth Building, General Registrar’s Office and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities, among others.

The proposed 3.25% salary raise remained unchanged in the budget, despite efforts by Sarah Abubaker, 4th District, to address concerns about including the city’s highest-paid officials, particularly in light of financial warnings raised about Richmond’s future.

“Throughout this process, I have offered multiple compromise proposals to prioritize underpaid workers while allowing for raises across the board,” Abubaker said. “Each time the administration said ‘no,’ insisting on full raises for all without any flexibility.”

The budget work session included a new amendment from Abubaker proposing salary reductions for positions earning more than $175,000. While several council members thanked her for the effort, there was no consensus to move the amendment forward.

“You have tried to make us realize that things are not fair at City Hall, and it’s not,” said Reva Trammell, 8th District, who noted the raises were in talks before the new administration was in place.

“We all agreed to give them more money. We also agreed for everybody across the board to have the [raise] so that it would be fair for our police chief, fire chief, department heads, all of that, because they work hard.”

Abubaker acknowledged her amendment would not pass but urged City Council to support an independent salary study for City employees. Her proposal received backing from Andrew Breton, 1st District, and Kenya Gibson, 3rd District.

“I really am shocked that we don’t have the votes for this,” Gibson said. “To me, it’s a no-brainer.”

Other changes missing from the proposal include funding for Richmond Public Schools to address requests from RPS leaders and employees, an expansion of the $20 minimum wage for City employees to include contracted cleaners and security staff, and support for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

The budget is scheduled for approval at City Council’s meeting on Monday, May 12.