Richmond, VA – Richmond’s city council has approved a 5.86% overall tax increase for the 2025 budget following a finance meeting on Monday. However, the proposed allocation of $500,000 to combat invasive species like blackberry brambles was rejected by the majority of council members.
Councillor Michael Wolfe had championed the additional funding for an invasive species management program, emphasizing the growing problem of invasive blackberries, English ivy, and knotweed in local parks, particularly Richmond Nature Park. Wolfe, who has been advocating for such a program for over six years, pointed out that the invasive species continue to spread despite multiple treatments.
“You can take me to any block, any street, any park and I will find blackberry, I will find English ivy choking trees, I will find knotweed that’s been sprayed and treated many times and it’s still there,” Wolfe told the council, expressing frustration over the persistence of the problem.
Wolfe shared his concern over the future of Richmond Nature Park, where blackberry brambles have expanded into areas that were previously unaffected. “It floors me after working there 20 years ago, the blackberry is expanding into areas where it’s never been before. It’s going to be a giant wasted park when it becomes all blackberry decades from now. But that’s where it’s going,” he said.
Despite Wolfe’s passionate plea, the majority of city council voted against the proposal to allocate additional funds for the invasive species program. Instead, they chose to proceed with the original 5.86% tax increase. However, many councillors expressed agreement with the need to address invasive species and referred the matter to the parks and recreation committee for further consideration.
The budget process itself was described as particularly challenging by City Chief Administrative Officer Serena Lusk, who noted that there were several significant cost drivers this year, including the addition of two new fire prevention captains at a cost of $386,000, six new RCMP officers at $1.2 million, and additional municipal staff to support the RCMP. Lusk also highlighted that about 40% of the city’s budget is allocated to community safety.
The overall 5.86% tax increase will result in an average additional cost of $128 for a single-family household with an assessed value of $1.3 million. Of this increase, 1.99% is dedicated to maintaining current levels of service, with another 1.85% attributed to recently negotiated city contracts. A portion of the increase will also go to capital reserves, and $2 million will be drawn from the rate stabilization fund, which reduces the tax burden by 0.65%.
The final approval for the 2025 budget will be made at next week’s city council meeting, where the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback before the budget goes out for public consultation.
