Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is proud to announce the results of another successful audit period (Oct. 25, 2025 through Jan. 28, 2026) in which 23 open audit recommendations were closed or removed as no longer applicable. This follows the closure or removal of 32 recommendations from the previous period (June 14, 2025, through October 24, 2025). 

“We see the auditor as an important partner in our continuous work to look for it, find it, and fix it, and we are extremely grateful for the role his team plays in helping us modernize internal systems, strengthen oversight, and improve accountability,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “We have used recent audit findings to inform major transformation efforts and to prioritize initiatives in my proposed budget.” 

Of the 21 recommendations closed this period, 17 were considered high priority. 117 total recommendations remain, down from 130 the previous period. 

“Our goal is continuous quality improvement and world-class service delivery.  These outcomes are evidence that we’re clearly on that path, reflected in the month-after-month progress made in closing these open audit recommendations,” said CAO Odie Donald II . 

Each quarter, the City Auditor publishes an Open Audit Recommendations Follow-Up Report detailing progress made on open audit recommendations across all City departments. Those reports can be found on rva.gov . 

Richmond, VA - The City of Richmond's Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Operations, Al Wiggins Jr., has completed the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) City/County Manager Symposium, an ICMA-credentialed executive development program designed for senior-level public sector leaders.

This year's cohort represented a broad cross-section of high-impact public professionals from Florida, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Arkansas, and Virginia, including city and county executives, elected leadership professionals, and senior airport management professionals. The cohort convened at the University of Georgia for advanced executive training, strategic collaboration, and peer learning.

The symposium delivered exclusive executive-level coursework aligned to ICMA's core leadership competencies. Wiggins completed the following advanced modules:

• Executive Self-Awareness and Cognitive Leadership
• Emotional Intelligence for Public Sector Executives
• Ethics, Governance, and Executive Judgment
• Transformational Change and Adaptive Leadership
• Organizational Culture Diagnostics and Enterprise Scanning
• Strategic Planning for Government Executives
• Executive Case Analysis and Application

"This program reinforced the disciplines required to lead complex municipal systems, drive cross-departmental performance, and respond to the evolving expectations of our communities," DCAO Al Wiggins said.

Graduates exit the program with strengthened executive competencies, an expanded strategic lens, and a national cohort of peers, including elected officials and airport-sector executives committed to excellence in public administration.

"Quality training experiences and professional development opportunities like this one are critical to a thriving City Hall and to making the City of Richmond an excellent place to work," said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II. "In fact, delivering white-glove service to our residents requires us to continually invest in our staff-and I plan to ensure all department heads engage in leadership training from internationally recognized organizations, just like ICMA."

Posted on Feb. 3, 2025

Richmond, VA – On January 8, in a ceremony held in the basement of the Main Branch of the Richmond Public Library, Senior Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg was sworn in as the City’s Interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). 

Joy-Hogg will serve as Interim CAO while the national search for a Chief Administrative Officer continues. That process is being led by the Robert Bobb Group (RBG), in collaboration with PoliHire, with a final candidate expected to be hired in the first half of 2025. Under Richmond’s governmental structure, the CAO reports to the Mayor and has responsibility for day-to-day operations in the City. 

“Effectively serving the citizens of Richmond requires deep collaboration across City Hall,” said Danny. “I appreciate City Council for confirming Sabrina Joy-Hogg as Interim CAO. Sabrina has extensive experience in local government leadership especially in the areas of administration, budget, and finance – areas she’s already had such a positive impact on here in Richmond. Having worked with her during the transition process, I am absolutely confident in her ability to serve as Interim CAO.” 

Prior to being confirmed as Interim CAO, Sabrina Joy-Hogg served as Senior DCAO for Administration and Finance for the City of Richmond. Her past experience includes roles with the U.S. Department of Treasury, Deputy City Manager for the City of Charlotte, NC, and Chief Deputy City Manager for the City of Norfolk, VA, among other positions. 

As part of the national CAO candidate search, a formal posting that includes a job description and information about the application process has been posted online. 

In conducting the national search, the Robert Bobb-Group – a minority-owned national consulting firm specializing in public and private sector consulting and advisory services – is focused on identifying qualified candidates whose vision and values are aligned with the needs of the City of Richmond. The executive search firm PoliHire, which specializes in identifying accomplished municipal and philanthropic leadership candidates, will support RBG during this process. 

About the Robert Bobb Group: The Robert Bobb Group, LLC is a minority-owned national consulting firm specializing in public and private sector consulting and advisory services. It offers solutions to government, military, private sector organizations, and educational institutions. Its excellence in strategic planning and knowledge of city government ensures searches return the best and the right candidate. 

About PoliHire: PoliHire is an executive search firm that partners with public-serving and mission-based organizations to understand their leadership needs and identify the highest-caliber candidates whose skill sets, demonstrated track record, and future aspirations are aligned with their clients’ commitment to service, excellence, and equity.

Richmond Begins Next Step in Three-Year Administrative Turnaround

July 25, 2024

Dear Team Richmond, 

I’m writing to thank you for your hard work in transforming the City of Richmond—and to say that we are just getting started.

When I became Chief Administrative Officer during the pandemic, key City offices were vastly understaffed, administrative processes were outdated, and recruitment needed to be improved. This slowed down delivery of basic services, and it prevented improvements in customer service. It put too much pressure on you. 

So together, we launched a 4-step turnaround plan: Hire more professional administrators, ensure recruitment and hiring practices that target qualified candidates, establish modern internal controls, and continuously monitor progress.  The plan is working, and it’s delivering results. For example, our current budget:  

• Right sizes the Departments of Finance, Procurement, Social Services, and the City Attorney’s Office with additional positions.
• Sets the minimum wage at $20/hour for all employees (one of the highest in the Commonwealth and certainly higher than the state’s $12 minimum wage and nearly three times the federal minimum wage of $7.25).
• Provides an average of 7.0% pay increase for Sworn police and fire personnel.
• Increases starting pay of Step 1 police officers and firefighters from $53,470 to $58,076.
• Continues with salary competitiveness for eligible General Employees with a 4.0% increase.
• Begins a multi-phased plan for market adjustments.
• Supports citywide short- and long-term disability insurance as of January 2025.
• Supports the new employee health clinics operated by Marathon health. 

Steps like these support everything we do in local government. For example, a professional credentialed Human Resources team enables us to fill hundreds of vacancies and attract qualified public servants. A better work environment leads to better services for residents, and that makes Richmond an even stronger city.   

Continuous improvement is the heart of our turnaround plan. We constantly measure how we’re doing, and we make adjustments along the way. That’s why Mayor Stoney has asked for an update of the 2017 assessment of City operations. Internally, we began the Internal Control Assessment in April and are now beginning the Procurement Services Assessment, which is authorized by the City’s FY 2025 budget that took effect July 1. As results come in, we will analyze them, make adjustments and keep moving.  

This administrative turnaround is designed to continuously improve operational performance, aiming to ensure a seamless transition as residents elect a new Mayor, City Council, and School Board in November. This is another sign of a thriving organization. 

It’s important to understand that this work is yielding clear results, and people are noticing. We can all be proud that Richmond earned its first ‘AAA’ bond rating last month. This is the country’s highest financial standard, and we have worked for many years to achieve it. This designation places us among the top tier of cities and counties around Virginia and around the country.  

Even so, steps like these rarely earn headlines. So, I want you to know that we will be telling this story more aggressively to the news media, starting this week. This includes setting the record straight about recent coverage that has been inaccurate at times. I also strongly believe that everyday City workers should not be targeted in news articles, when they are simply doing their jobs. 

That’s why, when I meet with reporters, I will start with your work. I will tell them how much I deeply appreciate your commitment to public service. I will show them how our watchwords are trust, respect, transparency, and accountability. 

And I will tell them how much more we must do. Public transit continues expanding around the region. Southside is growing fast, and it needs more services—from sidewalks to trees to entertainment, programming, and more. It’s simply not enough for everything to continue to be concentrated north of the river. 

All these projects can move faster, thanks to the stable foundation that we are building. 

I deeply appreciate your commitment to public service in the City that we all love so much. Your dedication inspires me. I want you to know that I see it, I hear it, and I value it.  

As we move forward, may we all continue committing to our shared vision and values. Let us continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in everything we do. Most of all, please remember that our work matters – it’s what keeps our beloved City of Richmond thriving and a cherished place to live.  

Once again, thank you.  

Yours in service,  

J.E. Lincoln Saunders

~Mayor Proposed Internal Controls Assessment in March, City Council Endorsed in May~
~Progress Affirmed by City’s First-Ever AAA Bond Rating, Earned Last Month~
~Administrators Preparing for Seamless Transition to New Mayor & City Council~

July 25, 2024

RICHMOND, VA – City of Richmond administrators said today that they are beginning the next steps in the City’s three-year operational turnaround, as the City continues systematically putting in place the foundational building blocks of a highly-functioning city government. The steps are yielding clear results, as demonstrated by Richmond earning its first ‘AAA’ bond rating last month after years of working to achieve the country’s highest financial standard.

City leaders said the administrative turnaround is designed to continuously improve operational performance, aiming to ensure a seamless transition as residents elect a new Mayor, City Council, and School Board in November.

“Richmond residents have long called for improvements in basic city services. We want to make this government better than it has ever been,” said Mayor Levar Stoney.

Download and read the full release here.